FEMA and FCC Plan Nationwide Emergency Alert Test for Oct. 4, 2023. Messages Will be Sent to All TVs, Radios and Cell Phones::FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) this fall.

  • jasondj@ttrpg.network
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    36
    ·
    1 year ago

    Well, one reason is that they’ve been utilized for Amber Alerts. Granted a lot of cities/states haven’t been able to figure out how to practically scope the announcements, but they are helpful.

    Another is the ever-changing climate. My region (Southern New England) rarely ever gets tornados. We had three a few weeks ago. One was in my hometown, and another was a couple of blocks from my bosses house. So while you may not be “prone” to natural disasters, that is likely to change.

    That said, if there ever were a reason to activate a National EAS, we would probably feel a lot better not being warned. That situation would likely be for confirmed launch of several nuclear munitions, or an eminent meteor strike, or something else cataclysmic that a few minutes warning would really do nothing except fill our last moments with fear.

    • mustardman
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      7
      ·
      1 year ago

      That said, if there ever were a reason to activate a National EAS, we would probably feel a lot better not being warned.

      Nukes coming, stay safe bro. Lol

    • 𝒍𝒆𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒏@lemmy.one
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      6
      ·
      1 year ago

      That bit about being prone to natural disasters in future does make sense, considering how climate change is resulting in increased in sea levels and affecting other things too.

      Thanks for your perspective!

    • thecrotch@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      How helpful are the amber alerts really? I’m not going to call the cops every time I see a green Hyundai, and if I see a kid in distress I’m going to call them with or without the alert