Starting later this month, all major carriers will provide the new emergency alert system, called Wireless Emergency Alert system that will work in conjunction with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Federal Communications Commission, Department of Homeland Security, the National Weather Service and other agencies.
Through the system warning messages will be sent through wireless networks from the President of the United States and other agencies. The alert system also supports Amber alerts for missing children. Most of the warnings will be for sever weather conditions.
Alerts will be sent to warn of events such as tornadoes, flash floods, hurricanes, typhoons, tsunamis, dust storms, extreme winds, blizzards and ice storms
Warnings are sent when the phones that are enabled and are based on location using Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) protocols.
Carriers that support the system are Sprint, Verizon wireless, AT&T, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Cricket and Cellcom.
The text alerts will be under 90 characters and are designed to help people get information about a disaster or weather alert.
The alerts will only go to users in the affected areas. User can opt out of all alerts except those coming from the president.
The alerts will be sent through local cell towers and have a unique signal and vibration.
Today the HTC ThunderBolt and Droid X are receiving updates that make them compatible with the system.