Emergency Alert Text Message Service Begins This Month - WRIC Richmond News and Weather -

Emergency Alert Text Service Begins This Month

Posted: Updated:

Starting this month, the government will send you text messages to warn about dangerous weather or other emergencies.

The Wireless Emergency Alerts service is free, and you don't have to sign up for it. Almost all wireless carriers have agreed to offer the service to their subscribers.

The messages will be location-based, issued to alert people in life-threatening situations, including tornadoes, flash floods, hurricanes, dust storms, extreme wind, or snow and ice. The National Weather Service says each text alert will be very short, so you will still need to get information from TV, radio, the Internet, or a NOAA weather radio.

The WEA can also issue Amber Alerts for missing children, and Presidential Alerts in case of a national emergency. Wireless subscribers can opt out of these text alerts.

More information on the new service can be found at http://www.erh.noaa.gov/lwx/WEA/WEA.php.

Copyright 2012 by Young Broadcasting of Richmond