Fact Sheet: New Alert System
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The government will soon be able to send warnings of national emergencies on wireless phones, Web sites and hand-held computers. NEW ALERT SYSTEM: Government will soon be able to send warnings of national emergencies Program still in pilot stages System expected to be working by end of next year PARTICIPANTS: Homeland Security Department Federal Emergency Management Agency Association of Public Television Stations WHERE ALERTS WOULD BE: Cell phones Web sites Hand-held computers Other wireless devices Cable TV channels Satellite Radio Traditional broadcast outlets HOW TRANSMITTED Text messages Audio recordings Video Graphics MORE POSSIBILITIES: Could also send detailed information to hospitals, emergency responders BACK TO THE FUTURE: Updates emergency alerts planned but never used during Cold War Those alerts were to have been used in the event of a nuclear strike President Harry Truman created nation's first alert system in 1951 Old system required radio stations broadcast only on certain frequencies during emergencies Evolved into the test on TV and radio stations that solemnly intoned: "This is a test of the emergency broadcast system. This is only a test." NEW THREATS: New Alert system would still warn of nuclear strike Could warn of terrorist attacks Would probably more often warn of natural disasters EXPECTED COST: $5.5 million to test and deploy nationally Cost expected to be $1 million annually to maintain NOT MANDATORY: Customers can opt out if they want STILL SOME GLITCHES: Systems could jam when trying to alert all customers at the same time (Source: Federal Emergency Management Agency)
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