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Emergency Broadcast System Coming To Cell Phones

Posted by samzenpus on from the set-your-emergency-to-vibrate dept.

gambit3 writes "The Emergency Broadcast System that interrupts TV programming in times of crisis is jumping to a new format where it might be able to reach you better — on your cell phone. The communications company Alcatel-Lucent announced Tuesday that it's creating a Broadcast Message Center that will allow government agencies to send cell phone users specific information in the event of a local, state or national emergency. It will be similar to the TV alerts in that the text messages will be geographically targeted for areas where a tornado alert or major road closure, for example, is in effect."

5 of 256 comments (clear)

  1. defeated by DOT plans to jam cell signals? by roc97007 · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It sounds like this would be rendered largely moot by DOT plans to disable cell phones in cars.

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    Oliver's law of assumed responsibility: If you're seen fixing it, you will be blamed for breaking it.
  2. Re:You mean... by hellkyng · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Got to see it successfully used when my neighborhood had to be evacuated for a forest fire. They kept us up to date on about 15 - 30 minute intervals with evacuation news. It would have been amazing to have it available from the cell phone at the time. I remember running around everywhere preparing to get out of the house, it was irritating to have to drop what you were doing to find the traditional phone. Sounds like good stuff.

  3. I like the idea by TheDarkMaster · · Score: 4, Interesting

    I work indirectly for the Civil Defense in my state (disaster control). And I can say that the ability to be able to warn all people in a given area that they must seek shelter or where to seek help after a disaster are priceless.

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    Religion: The greatest weapon of mass destruction of all time
  4. pool by mevets · · Score: 3, Interesting

    How long before the access control to this is subverted and nationwide penis enhancement texts start arriving?

    I'll take 3 weeks after deployment.

  5. Already get these by brusk · · Score: 3, Interesting

    After the VA Tech shootings, a lot of college campuses implemented an emergency alert system that includes text messages to students and employees. My campus is one of them. The system is not geographically-aware but rather subscription-based, and so far all I've received are test messages (they announce the tests by email a few days in advance), sometimes synchronized with on-campus sirens. But it seems to work.

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    .sig withheld by request