Source FEMA IPAWS Video
# 6327
Today a guide for the acronym-impaired as the federal government makes ready for the launch of their new cell phone emergency alert system dubbed the Personal Localized Alert Network (aka PLAN), also known as CMAS (Commercial Mobile Alert System) or alternately as WEA (Wireless Emergency Alerts).
Emergency text messages are to be delivered via the IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System) program, and can include localized Presidential messages, Amber Alerts, and imminent threat alerts such as severe weather warnings.
All of this is part of the larger EAS (Emergency Alert System) which broadcasts emergency warnings on radio, TV, and other media (see Emergency Alert System (EAS) Test Today).
Essentially, with PLAN, authorized government agencies (either local, tribal, state, or federal) can send an emergency text of up to 90 characters to millions of cell phone users simultaneously, providing instant warning of a localized threat such as a tornado, tsunami, or public safety hazard.
The good news is this service is free to cellular customers, and will be offered to nearly all cell phone users in the United States. The bad new is older cell phones may not support this technology, and you may need to upgrade your phone in order to be able to access it.
Just over a year ago the FEMA BLOG carried a detailed report on this new technology, which you can access at:
Emergency Alerts Delivered to Your Phone: What Our New PLAN Means to You
Posted by: Damon Penn, Assistant Administrator, National Continuity Programs
And from the FCC Encyclopedia, we get this Q&A FAQ on this new PLAN.
What is PLAN?
The Personal Localized Alerting Network (PLAN) is a new public safety system that allows customers who own an enabled mobile device to receive geographically-targeted, text-like messages alerting them of imminent threats to safety in their area.
This new technology ensures that emergency alerts will not get stuck in highly congested user areas, which can happen with standard mobile voice and texting services.
<SNIP>
FAQ
Q: Who will receive PLAN alerts?
A: Alerts are geographically targeted, so a customer living in downtown New York would not receive a threat alert if they happen to be in Chicago when the alert is sent. Similarly, someone visiting downtown New York from Chicago on that same day would receive the alert. This requires a PLAN enabled mobile device and participation by the wireless provider in PLAN.
Q: Do consumers have to sign up to receive alerts?
A: Customers of participating carriers are automatically signed up. PLAN allows government officials to send emergency alerts to all subscribers with PLAN-capable devices if their wireless carrier participates in the program. Consumers do not need to sign up for this service.
Q: How much will consumers pay to receive PLAN alerts ?
A: Alerts Are Free. Customers do not pay to receive PLAN alerts.
Q: What alerts will PLAN deliver?
A: Alerts from PLAN cover only critical emergency alerts. Consumers will receive only three types of alerts:
- Alerts issued by the President
- Alerts involving imminent threats to safety of life
- Amber Alerts
Participating carriers may allow subscribers to block all but Presidential alerts.
Q: What will consumers experience when they receive a PLAN alert?
A: PLAN uses a unique signal and vibration, and appears much like a text message. A PLAN alert will be accompanied by a unique attention signal and vibration, which is particularly helpful to people with hearing or vision-related disabilities. The PLAN alert will appear as a pop-up text on the handset screen much like a text message.
Q: Are PLAN alerts text messages?
A: No, PLAN messages are not text messages. Alerts will not have to be opened like SMS text messages, but will “pop up” on the handset’s screen. PLAN alerts are transmitted using a new technology that is separate and different from voice calls and SMS text messages. This new technology that ensures emergency alerts will not get stuck in highly congested user areas, which can happen with standard mobile voice and texting services.
Q:Will consumers need a new phone or a smart phone to receive alerts?
A: Some phones may require only software upgrades to receive alerts, while in other cases a subscriber may need to purchase a new PLAN-capable handset. Consumers should check with their wireless carrier regarding the availability of PLAN-capable handsets.
During a sudden emergency, the most important asset you can have is timely information; being aware of an impending threat, so you can deal with it.
Sometimes a few minutes advance warning can make all the difference in the world.
As the EAS system expands and modernizes to include cell phones, Internet, and cable TV – your odds of being blindsided by a tornado, earthquake, or other disaster decreases.
But to be truly effective, you need to have a disaster plan already in place to deal with any alerts that the government’s PLAN delivers.
To become better prepared as an individual, family, business owner, or community to deal with all types of disasters, I would invite you to visit the following preparedness sites.
FEMA http://www.fema.gov/index.shtm
READY.GOV http://www.ready.gov/
AMERICAN RED CROSS http://www.redcross.org/
