What is the acronym WEA?

8/25/2020 (Permalink)

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are emergency messages sent by authorized government- alerting authorities through your mobile carrier. Government partners include local and state public safety agencies, FEMA, the FCC, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Weather Service. 

Alerts received at the right time can help keep you safe during an emergency. WEA alerts can be sent to your mobile device when you may be in harms way, without need to download app or subscribe to a service. WEA may be used to share: 

• Extreme weather warnings
• Local emergencies requiring evacuation or immediate action. 
• AMBER Alerts
• Presidential Alerts during a national emergency

WEA will look like a text message will typically show the type and time of the alert. The message will be no more than 90 characters. 

Visit www.ctia.org/wea to learn more about Wireless Emergency Alerts, includng how to determine if your mobile device is WEA-capable.