The alert many of us got on our phone for Tuesday’s annual Statewide Tornado Drill failed to specify that it was just that…..a drill.
The drill was conducted, as scheduled, at 10:00 a.m., and seconds later, a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) went sent to mobile devices.
It was labelled “Emergency Alert,” instructing the user to “take shelter now in a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building.”
But the alert never specified the Statewide Tornado Drill or even that the alert was a test.
Government partners include local and state public safety agencies, FEMA, the FCC, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Weather Service.
The Statewide Tornado Drill also involved NOAA Weather Radio, Emergency Alert System activation on radio and T-V, and activation of outdoor storm warning sirens.
Schools, families and businesses were encouraged to participate in the drill and practice sheltering plans in case of a severe weather emergency.
WEA’S are sent by authorized government alerting authorities through your mobile carrier.
