Two federal agencies collaborated on the annual national alert test Wednesday.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Federal Communications Commission worked together on the test of the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, or IPAWS. In part, this involved alerts to cell phones as part of the Wireless Emergency Alert system. This has been a point of emphasis as cell phone use continues to explode. Here’s Lyon County Emergency Management Director Jarrod Fell:
The Emergency Alert System was also tested on radio and TV channels.
Fell says the IPAWS system comes into play most frequently in severe weather situations, but it can be used for other emergencies or threats.
Fell says residents who didn’t get a notification on their mobile devices are should contact their service provider.
