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Opt In to Wireless Emergency Alert Tests
Visit the following link for instructions to receive Wireless Emergency Alert messages: https://www.fcc.gov/sites/default/files/weatest_opt-in_instructions.pdf
New "Destructive" Severe Thunderstorm Warning will Trigger Wireless Emergency Alerts
The criteria for a destructive damage threat:
- At least 2.75 inch diameter (baseball-sized) hail and/or
- 80 mph thunderstorm winds
Warnings with this tag will automatically activate a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) from the National Weather Service on smartphones within the warned area. On average, only 10% of all severe thunderstorms nationwide reach the destructive category each year. Most of these storms are damaging wind events.
What is EAS?
The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national public warning system that requires TV and radio broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service providers, direct broadcast satellite service providers and wireline video service providers to offer to the President the communications capability to address the American public during a national emergency.
EAS may also be used by state and local authorities to deliver important messages such as AMBER (missing children) alerts and emergency weather information targeted to a specific area. Additionally, EAS equipment can directly monitor the NWS for local weather and other emergency alerts, which local broadcast stations, cable systems, and other EAS participants can then rebroadcast, providing an almost immediate relay of local emergency messages to the public.
How does the EAS work?
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Weather Service (NWS), implement the EAS at the national level. Only the President determines when the EAS will be activated at the national level, and has delegated the administration of this function to FEMA. Accordingly, FEMA activates the national EAS, and directs national EAS tests and exercises. The NWS uses the EAS on a local and statewide basis to provide the public with alerts and warnings regarding dangerous weather and other emergency conditions.