Notes

How Emergency Alarms Can Save Lives
Many studies have found that individuals who purchase alarms experience reduced ED visits and hospital admissions.

The system works by sending targeted Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) to your compatible cellular phone. WEAs use technology that overrides network congestion and delivers messages quickly and reliably. Tests are conducted regularly. The first national WEA message was sent in 2012.
Weather Alerts

A weather alert is a special sound or message that lets people know hazardous conditions are present, such as an approaching tornado or flash flood. The National Weather Service issues these alerts to inform residents of the need to take safety precautions. People can also receive alerts via their cell phones and radios. In some areas, sirens are used to issue a 30-second slow wail tone to warn residents of danger. These sounds are generally tested at noon on the first Wednesday of every month.

The Emergency Alert System is used by federal, state and local authorities to broadcast important information, such as AMBER alerts and weather warnings, directly to residents in affected areas. The EAS is a national public warning system that allows the President to address the nation within minutes in the event of a national emergency and that broadcasters, satellite digital audio providers and cable systems can use to deliver local incident information. Local alerts may be weather-related or for things like AMBER alerts and traffic incidents, depending on the type of emergency.

Wireless Emergency Alerts are a part of the EAS that allow officials to send a text-based alert directly to cellular phones that have been enrolled in the program. Officials are able to send these alerts to specific groups of people, such as those who live in a storm-prone area or who have children in school.

There are currently eight types of WEA alerts that can be sent to the public. WEA messages are delivered to all compatible cellular phones, regardless of whether they are on silent or not. These messages are delivered through the carrier's networks, which include cell towers and landlines.

FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission work together to maintain the EAS and WEA systems, which allow authorities at all levels of government to communicate urgent information with residents. The next nationwide test of the EAS will be conducted on Wednesday, Oct. 4 at 2:20 p.m. ET. During this time, cell phone users who have their phones switched on and in range of an active tower and are subscribed to a provider that participates in WEA should receive a one-minute sound alert.
Missing Person Alerts

In the United States, missing person alerts (also known as AMBER, Silver and Clear) are issued when law enforcement believes a person is in danger of harm or death due to age, health, mental or physical disability, or environment. Once an agency requests an alert, the state clearinghouse compiles all available information about that person and creates a poster with those details. This is sent to law enforcement, media and individuals who have registered to receive them, as well as the Department of Transportation and Thruway Authority to activate variable highway signs.

The AMBER Alert was launched in 1996 and is named after 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, whose abduction prompted the creation of a nationwide warning system. The system has since spread around the world, with countries adapting it to fit their own needs and requirements.

A Silver Alert is similar to an AMBER Alert, except it is triggered by police believing a senior citizen with a diagnosed medical condition has gone missing and is at a high risk of injury or death. Typically, the public will be notified about a Silver Alert through local news channels and a message can also be broadcast on WEA-enabled mobile phones.

An Endangered Missing Person alert, which is a specialized form of an AMBER Alert, is used when police believe a person may be in danger of serious injury or death due to age or circumstance and that information about their location is not available. The person may have wandered from a residence or is believed to be in the company of a dangerous person.

A Camo Alert is a special type of AMBER alert designed to notify the public about missing current and former military personnel who may struggle with mental illness and isolate themselves. The state’s Coordinated Law Enforcement Adult Rescue (CLEAR) Alert program is a variation of the AMBER Alert and is used to help police locate missing, kidnapped or abducted adults who are in immediate danger of serious injury or death. The CLEAR Alert criteria and additional information can be found here.
Fire Alerts

Fire alarm systems are designed and engineered to quickly notify occupants of an emergency. When the fire alarm sounds, evacuate your building immediately. Never ignore or assume that it is a false alarm or the result of a test. Evacuate by evacuating through the closest and safest exit or stairway. Do not use elevators. Keep stairways clear of obstructions and do not block the exits with your belongings or furniture.

It’s fire season in many areas of the country and there’s a risk for wildfires. You’ve likely seen red flag warnings on your weather apps or on TV and radio news programs. These alerts are issued by the National Weather Service and mean that a dangerous combination of warm temperatures, low humidity and strong winds will increase the potential for wildfires.

When you receive a fire alert, listen for detailed information and follow the instructions from your local authorities. It’s important to practice evacuation routes with family members and pets ahead of time, so they know what to expect. It’s also wise to have a go bag ready with essential supplies, a first aid kit and pet care items, as well as an emergency money supply.

Geofence During a wildfire, you’ll need to sign up for multiple alert systems to get timely information. Nixle and LakeCoAlerts are both good options, as is social media and local tv and radio for play-by-play information on the situation.

Remember that during a wildfire, initial messaging will take time to develop as firefighters focus on fighting the fire and collecting information. It’s also best to avoid relying solely on these sources for evacuation notifications, and instead opt to rely on the county’s official system (Alert Marin) which will only send messages to addresses that are impacted by a fire.

If you’re in charge of an apartment complex, school or commercial facility, it’s a good idea to discuss your emergency broadcasting needs with Database Systems Corp. We can help you with a solution that will cost less up front, provide system redundancy and deliver more reliable emergency broadcasting.
Police Alerts

As the name implies, police alerts allow law enforcement to inform residents and businesses of criminal activity that is in progress or may be imminent. lone worker safety devices The alert can include information about a person or place and can be broadcast across multiple platforms, including cable and satellite television and AM/FM radio stations. The system also allows for alerts to be delivered via mobile phones using the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) program.

WEA alerts are free of charge for those who opt in, but standard text messaging rates apply. The system uses geographic mapping technology to tailor messages to specific locations so that only those who need to receive them get them. Alerts can be triggered by breaking news, weather emergencies or other events that could affect the safety of a particular area or campus.

Police alerts can also be triggered by the activation of fire or elevator safety alarms in buildings. When activated, the alarms will automatically send a signal to security and prompt a response from local police and fire department personnel. The same system can be used in schools, hospitals and other businesses to protect employees, patients or guests from unauthorized access.

While the idea of a police alert system might seem alarmist, it can help reduce the number of false alarms that are sent to the police when they're not needed. False alarms can be a huge drain on police resources, as the police must stop what they are doing to check in and determine whether an emergency is in fact occurring. The amount of time that is wasted can cause delays in responding to real break-ins, fires or other incidents. Some municipalities even fine homeowners who get too many false alarms from their home security systems.

NC State University uses a notification system called WolfAlert to keep students and staff updated about important issues impacting the university community. Students and staff can opt in to the service by submitting their address and choosing how they want to be notified. They can opt in for a text message, email or voice alert. The system will deliver a test alert on the first Monday of each month. The university will issue "wolf alerts" only when there is a serious, widespread threat to campus.
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