U.S. To Launch Mobile Phone Emergency Alert System

[engine]

U.S. To Launch Mobile Phone Emergency Alert System [bbc.co.uk]

A new mobile telephone emergency alert system will be launched in New York City and Washington DC by the end of the year, US officials have said.

The system will allow the federal government and local authorities to reach people on their mobile phones to warn them of imminent danger.

Messages from the US president or information about missing children would also be sent through the system.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said there would be no charge to users.

Big brother says, 'we want all your mobile numbers'

[incrediBILL]

OK, this is cool, could save lives, I like it.

Until you get this emergency tweet "ICBM incoming, wish we could help, kiss your butt g'bye and thanks for voting for us!"

[scooterdude]

They had this or similar in Japan and it appears it helped, apparently 15 min advance warning or something according to the news program

[tangor]

The thing that ticks me off is all the rest of us who don't have mobile phones won't get warned/alerted! That's discrimination! (put a smilie on it if you like, or not)

[Leosghost]

Those without mobile phones will be alerted by the panic of those with..

[incrediBILL]

The county I live in has this service but you have to register for it: [smcalert.info...]

Kind of sad most don't know it exists so having it available without registration is probably best.

[piatkow]

Half the messages won't get through because the recipients of the other half are already phoneing their families and bringing the network to a halt.

[lawman]

Good luck on getting my daughters to anwer. Texting them won't help either.

[engine]

The idea is good, but, I have my reservations.

Prior to this, what other ways were there to communicate such alerts?

[Samizdata]

Prior to this, what other ways were there to communicate such alerts?

Paul Revere on a horse.

...

[Fribble]

Prior to this, what other ways were there to communicate such alerts?

In my town, we tattoo important messages on shaved monkeys and release them from strategic locations to ensure proper dissemination. This works much better.

On a more serious note, I think this is a good idea, especially if they can implement it without collecting personal information. If they can set up a system that broadcasts messages/texts/etc to everyone within range of certain cell towers, rather than to specific numbers, then it sounds pretty useful.

[piatkow]

Prior to this, what other ways were there to communicate such alerts?

In the UK sirens on police and fire stations. Once upon a time of course every community had a local police station so you would be within sound of a siren.

[Leosghost]

France still uses sirens on each town hall..some places test them one day each month usually at midday..

Modern day USA sends out a little bald guy, named Bruce Willis, whenever danger threatens ..anywhere.

Hollywood would not lie to us ..so I know this is true.

[lucy24]

Prior to this, what other ways were there to communicate such alerts?

By telephone, of course. The kind that is now called a "land line". My town uses them for tsunami alerts. Preferably at 5AM, so you've got a choice between dragging yourself out of bed or trying to sleep through the answering machine's every-15-second beeps for the next several hours.

[incrediBILL]

Prior to this, what other ways were there to communicate such alerts?

Well, there were smoke signals, such as when Chicago and San Fran burned to the ground...

Then there are those really bright flashes of light, mushroom cloud, shockwave...

They usually are good alerts but typically a bit too time delayed to be useful.

[blend27]

Sounds like every body is already scared or waiting to be..

@Leosghost: ..of those with.. +1

[engine]

I used to be involved with a local volunteer emergency service and we used to get a phone call from the designated emergency service, who would call one of our land line numbers, then, we would pass that report along to the next party, etc. It seemed to work.
Thankfully, we were never needed for anything significant, so they were mostly exercises.

Now, with many people owning mobile phones, the dissemination can come from the emergency service direct to the people, or via Twitter.