Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and Emergency Alert System (EAS) Notifications
Dakota 911 is an alerting authority for the Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) for Dakota County. This allows Dakota 911 to send Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and Emergency Alert System (EAS) notifications. A WEA is a short emergency message that can be broadcast from cell towers to any WEA-enabled mobile device in a locally targeted area. WEA is a partnership among the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). An EAS is sent to radio and TV broadcasters. It’s very rare that Dakota 911 will send an EAS.
WEAs can be sent to your mobile device when you may be in harm’s way, without the need to download an app or subscribe to a service and at no charge to you. Other scenarios where a WEA may be sent include 911 service disruptions, or when the public’s help is needed to help locate an endangered person, such as an autistic child that is missing or a person with dementia. WEA messages are short and can provide immediate, life-saving information. The messages will be no more than 360 characters.
The message will contain the name of the authorizing agency, instructions, a description of the emergency, the area of the emergency, further instruction if necessary and instruction on how to keep updated on the emergency.
Frequently asked Questions:
Can I call 911 with questions about a WEA?
Do not call 911 to ask questions about the WEA. The message you receive should deliver a clear message. You should call 911 if you have pertinent information regarding the emergency that can help the public safety responders.
What are the types of Wireless Emergency Alerts that Dakota 911 might send?
Imminent Threat Alerts include natural or human-made disasters, extreme weather, active shooters, and other threatening emergencies that are current or emerging.
Public Safety Alerts contain information about a threat that may not be imminent or after an imminent threat has occurred. Public safety alerts are less severe than imminent threat alerts.
Can I opt out of these alerts?
Yes, you can opt out of alerts with the exception of a Presidential Alert.
Here are some helpful links to learn more about emergency and government alert settings on devices.
Who gets these messages?
A message is drafted upon a geographical area that is selected based on the situation at hand. A WEA message is sent to the selected geographical area. Technology continues to improve the delivery of alerts to cell phones.
Why didn’t I get the WEA alert but someone near me did?
Not receiving an alert may be due to inadequate cell reception, technology capabilities of your device (i.e. some mobile phones will not show an alert while a phone call is active – this varies by make and model).
Not receiving an alert may also be because your mobile phone is:
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- On wifi and doesn’t have a wireless connection
- Set to “off” or “airplane mode”
- Not connected to a cell site broadcasting the alert
- Connected to a cell site that is not broadcasting the alert, undergoing maintenance or is out of service
- The device is opted out of receiving alerts. The location of the alerts opt-in/opt-out menu typically is in the notifications settings menu
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Why did I receive the alert outside of the geographical area?
A WEA can be received miles outside the geographical area because the signal can bounce off different towers. As technology improves, the accuracy of delivery will improve.
For additional information you can visit https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/practitioners/integrated-public-alert-warning-system