FEMA and FCC announce a new PLAN to keep the nation safe

INPUT Analyst Krisin Howe reports.

The Federal Communications Commission’s Emergency Alert System (EAS) is most commonly identified by the phrase “This is a test …” and a series of loud beeps. However, beginning in 2012, the EAS will take on a new form. Currently, the EAS provides alerts through television and radio, but has no way to notify people away from those mediums. A pilot project to drastically increase the availability of alert information and align the system with how many people consume most of their information was announced in New York City last week. Beginning this year, citizens and visitors to New York state and Washington, D.C. will be able to receive important alerts to their mobile phones. This new addition to the EAS, frequently known as the Personal Localized Alerting Network (PLAN) and formally known as the Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS), will provide text messages accompanied by a special tone reserved just for the system, and likely a special vibration with alert information as well.

For the complete blog, go here.