SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
What to Expect From the Wireless Emergency Alert Test Wednesday:
The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System on Wednesday will send a test message to everyone using a phone in the US that runs on a network operated by a carrier participating in the the Wireless Emergency Alert system. You'll know you've gotten the message if the header reads "Presidential Alert."
The content of the message will also make it clear you've received the test message. "THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed," it'll read. If you've ever received an Amber Alert on your phone, the WEA test might look similar. That's because both types of messages are sent through the same Federal Emergency Management Agency system.
[...] The test message will be sent at 11:18 a.m. PT/2:18 p.m. ET on Wednesday, though FEMA says it might take a few minutes for the test to make it to all phones. Your phone may alert you that the test message has arrived in a slightly different manner than normal text notifications, FEMA says. "WEA includes a special tone (some describe it as quite loud) and a vibration, both repeated twice," according to a description on the FEMA website.
[...] The WEA test will be followed by a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, which is a similar message that will be played over broadcast radio and television stations, at 11:20 a.m. PT/2:20 p.m. ET. Both tests were originally planned for Sept. 20 but were postponed until Oct. 3 because of Hurricane Florence.
Previously: FEMA Emergency Test Message to be Sent to Most U.S. Cell Phones on Sept. 20 (or Oct. 3)
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 03 2018, @04:53PM (5 children)
Much more likely: Your phone connected to a cell tower that was in the "evac area" and by connecting to that cell tower, it received the alert
(Score: 2) by requerdanos on Wednesday October 03 2018, @05:50PM (4 children)
So, do you suppose that the tower was broadcasting the message continuously and phones only show the message once? I ask because I legit don't know how this works.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 03 2018, @06:24PM
You are likely to get only guesswork here. I assume the system tracks which cell #s have received which message, or possibly the tower queries the phone to see if it already has the message.
(Score: 3, Informative) by VLM on Wednesday October 03 2018, @06:45PM (1 child)
https://www.weather.gov/riw/WEA_Info [weather.gov]
Probably more than you wanted to know. And this is "for" Wyoming but its a nationwide system.
As you probably know in urban areas the tower you connect to is probably like a block away on the side of a building, so geographic targeting is pretty good, and in rural areas, heck who knows the tower you're randomly connected to might be 30 miles away if the geography and terrain work that way. I know I get stupid warnings sometimes, like some Amber alert because some kids dad is 50 miles east of me last spotted driving east, why would I even get that?
(Score: 2) by requerdanos on Wednesday October 03 2018, @10:23PM
Helpful site. Quoting its FAQ:
(Score: 2) by sjames on Thursday October 04 2018, @12:56AM
That would be my best guess. The alert probably has an ID number on it.