LANSING – Last week, thousands of sleepy people in mid-Michigan got a text message around 5 a.m. saying there was a flash flood warning for the area.
And there's been confusion ever since from people who've never received one before.
The messages are Wireless Emergency Alerts, and are sent automatically to newer model smart phones like iPhones, Androids, and Samsung Galaxy phones.
"This is a life-saving technology that helps inform the public about a potential life-threating situation," Chris Kelenske, Deputy State Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, said. "When these alerts are received at the right time, they can help direct you to safety during an emergency or disaster."
Known as WEA for short, these alerts are emergency messages sent by authorized governmental units such as the National Weather Service and state and local emergency response officials through a user's mobile carrier.
For future reference, if an imminent threat does occur and an alert is sent, a WEA text will be sent with a special alert tone. Mobile phone users are not charged for receiving these texts and are automatically enrolled to receive them.
There are three types of automatic alerts:
- Extreme weather, such as tornadoes, flash floods, and severe thunderstorms and other life-threating emergencies in your area
- AMBER Alerts
- Presidential Alerts during a national emergency
Users may opt out of receiving imminent threat warnings and AMBER Alerts; however, they may not opt out from receiving Presidential Alerts.
For more information about WEA, go to their website.