National Weather Service To Unveil New Mobile Alert System
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- More than 50 percent of Minnesota tornadoes hit during the months of June and July.
And if you're not by a weather radio or TV, they can take you by surprise. But a new service will make it easier to stay alert.
We've been telling you about Wireless Emergency Alerts. This month, the National Weather Service will start send out information like tornado and flood warnings directly to your cell phone.
There is nothing to download or subscribe to, and the alerts will look a lot like a text message but you won't be charged. The Wireless Emergency Alerts will also have a unique ring tone. When you get it, it won't interrupt any phone calls or downloads in progress.
There is one issue: Several older mobile devices are not WEA capable. Experts in the wireless industry estimate that by the year 2014, all cell phones on the market will be WEA capable.
If you have an older phone, you should check with your service provider. And if you're on the road when the alert goes out, you'll still get it because the alert is sent straight to the cell towers in the area it affects.
The service isn't just for weather alerts. It will also be used for Amber alerts in the case of missing children, when there's a presidential alert, evacuation alerts and if there's a gas leak or chemical spill.
