Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)

October 2014 – In research funded by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate, Georgia Tech is holding focus groups to discuss assistive technology features, mobile devices, and how people with disabilities respond and are alerted of emergencies. Because different disability types aren’t always considered in the design of alerting systems, this cycle of research is seeking feedback from individuals who are Deaf or hard-of-hearing.

FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Program Management Office (PMO) was honored with the “Greatest Citizen Impact Award” for its IPAWS system by the American Council for Technology’s (ACT’s) Industry Advisory Council (IAC) at their Igniting Innovation Showcase in Washington, D.C.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) can be received on cell phones across the country. These alerts are automatic, provide AMBER alerts, and weather emergency notifications. Unlike text alerts you may receive from your city, county, or institution, you do not have to sign-up to receive WEA messages.

The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center for Wireless Technologies (Wireless RERC) is interested in your level of awareness of WEA messages. This survey will also help us understand how accessible and useful you think they are.

October 2013 — The Wireless RERC released a Research Brief entitled, “FM Radio and RBDS-Based Emergency Alerting: Possibilities and Potholes.”  The brief discusses the limitations of current mobile emergency alerts, noting the expense and unreliability of Short Message Service (SMS) text messages and the limited text allowed for Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).

February 25, 2013 — The Chief, Public Safety and Homeland Security Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released an Order [PS Docket No. 07-287] that officially changes the name of the system used to transmit emergency alerts to the public from “Commercial Mobile Alert System” (CMAS) to “Wireless Emergency Alerts” (WEA). Under the Warning Alert and Response Network Act (WARN Act), the FCC adopted the essential technical requirements to enable commercial mobile service providers to transmit emergency alerts.