VashonBePrepared Weekly Newsletter

Newsletter #162 Friday, December 20, 2024: (full newsletter)

‘Tis the Season of Millions of Batteries
Lithium-Ion Batteries Can Catch Fire and Even Explode
Your Quick Checklist for Battery Safety

Esta es la Epoca de uso de Millones de Baterias
Las Baterias de Litio pueden Encenderse y hasta Explotar
Lista de Seguridad para el Uso de Baterias

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VashonBePrepared is a coalition of some 10 disaster preparedness organizations on Vashon-Maury Island in Washington's Puget Sound region. We work closely with local and county organizations.

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Latest Updates

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) service starting this month

May 14

Written by:
5/14/2012 7:29 AM  RssIcon

Wireless Emergency Alerts Capable LogoAs part of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) program, the Wireless Emergency WEA) service is starting up this month. Consumers do not sign up for the free, location-based 90 character text messaging service - but if they wish can opt out of weather and AMBER alerts – but not presidential alerts. Alerts will be issued for tsunamis, extreme winds, ice storms, blizzards, and other life-threatening events – i.e., weather warnings – but not less severe weather watches.

Wireless Emergency Alerts and updates will provide the following information:

  • Alert Category
  • Event Type
  • Response
  • Severity
  • Urgency
  • Certainty

WEA are not the same as text messages. WEA will not have to be opened like SMS text messages, but will “pop up” on the device’s screen.  A key differentiator between the CMAS/WEA capability and the existing Short Message Service Point-to-Point (SMS-PP)--a one-to-one or one-to-few alerting service--is that WEA uses SMS-Cell Broadcast (SMS-CB), a one-to-many service, which simultaneously delivers messages to multiple recipients in a specified area. By using SMS-CB as the delivery technology service, WEAs avoid the congestion issues currently experienced by traditional SMS-PP alerting services, which translates into faster and more comprehensive delivery of messages during times of emergency. – WEA FAQ

  • In cooperation with wireless providers (AT&T, Cellcom, Cricket, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon Wireless), the system should be implemented through the rest of the year nationwide. The Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) is the system interface to the WEA service.
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