Yesterday federal regulators approved to create a nationwide emergency contact system that can be delivered to cellphones. The huge popularity of text messaging among Americans has created an outlet for the Warning Alert and Response Network Act of 2006 to have a way to alert the public of emergencies. The text message system would only be used to alert the nation of three things:
1. A national alert from the president about a terrorist attack or natural disaster
2. "imminent threats" such as natural disasters (hurricanes, tornadoes) and university shootings
3. Child abduction (Amber Alerts)
People will have the option to not have messages sent to their phone. And those who do will not be charged for the messages they receive.
This service could take place by 2010. I think it is a great idea that has no harm in signing up for. Many universities already have a similar system that alert students if campus is unsafe. A lot of people are always on the go and don't always have access to the news or a computer. Contacting people through their cellphones (something that most people have with them at all times) will be effective at getting important messages across at the time they need to be delivered.
Good idea, but kind of scary. Do you think this might create mass-chaos? It seems familiar now that the KU campus is texting alerts to students, concerning weather-related conditions and the such.
I'm not sure there is reason for this really. People will generally already be aware of an imminent threat from nature thanks to their local meterologist. I can see why they think this might be helpful, but it seems like an unnecessary expense and caution. I think the government is still trying to find ways to excuse the disaster that was post-Katrina and such.
Great the only thing I need now is text alerts from the government. I realize that the government is trying to catch up to current times, but I really don’t want to have text messages from them. If there is some sort of warning that I need to know about then I am sure I will hear about it from the news or from the peers around me. I don’t need to have a text message from someone I don’t know. In my personal opinion I will treat it like spam mail.
I think this is a good idea because it might appeal to America's youth. Every teen has there cellphone attatched as part of their body. Most don't watch the news so this is a good way to reach them in the event of an emergency. However, I think that the messages should be voluntary. Citizens who want to receive the messages should be required to register their numbers online, similar to that of KU's process. This will allow people who don't want the messages to not have to worry about them.
The messages will be voluntary. If you do not want messages sent to your cell phone you will not be required to receive them. However, I am not sure how the process will be to go about that. It probably will be something you can sign up for online - or perhaps similar to the "do not call list" that stops solicitors from getting your cell phone number.