Latest news with #WirelessEmergencyAlert
Boston Globe
24-07-2025
- Climate
- Boston Globe
Providence will retire its rarely-used emergency sirens, moving fully digital
'It could have actually further confused people,' Decerbo said in an interview with the Globe. The tragedy 'renewed the discourse about public alert and warning' across the country, she said. Advertisement Providence isn't prone to tsunamis, but has experienced Get Rhode Island News Alerts Sign up to get breaking news and interesting stories from Rhode Island in your inbox each weekday. Enter Email Sign Up 'Unless you are right next to it, and outdoors, you really can't tell what the person is saying,' Decerbo said. Indoors, it can only be heard within a half mile. And when the city conducted its regular tests of the sirens, people asked: 'what am I supposed to do when I hear a siren?' The city is now rolling out its new emergency alert plan starting Sept. 1, which includes decommissioning the sirens and streamlining the protocols for two types of digital alerts: one that comes to your phone automatically for life-threatening emergencies, and a second opt-in system for public information that is not life-or-death. Advertisement The recent Under the new operating procedure, a short list of people — including Decerbo, Mayor Brett Smiley, the fire and police chiefs and their deputies — can call the Rhode Island Emergency Management agency to send a Wireless Emergency Alert for a life-threatening emergency that requires an evacuation or shelter in place. (This system is already used for AMBER Alerts and National Weather Service warnings.) The city has pre-crafted messages in English and Spanish, which would then be pushed automatically to cellphones in the selected geographic area. Wireless emergency alerts should be turned on by default, though people can double-check in their phone settings that the sound is on so they can be woken up for a middle-of-the-night evacuation. (While reporting at the emergency management agency, a Globe reporter discovered she had silenced her own alerts.) The existing Clara Decerbo, Providence's emergency management director, can send a CodeRED alert from her computer. Steph Machado/Globe Staff The wireless alerts are useful in a life-threatening emergency like street flooding, for example, when the most dangerous place to be is in a car. Someone passing through Providence when flash flooding hits might not get a CodeRED alert, which is based on their address, but would get the wireless emergency alert. Advertisement While relying on cellphones is not a perfect system — power can go out, and phones can die — installing citywide sirens would be prohibitively expensive, Decerbo said, and still wouldn't solve the issue of residents deciphering what action to take if they hear a siren. Outdoor sirens are no longer considered a key component to emergency alert systems, especially outside of the tornado alley region in the central US, and civil defense sirens that once warned of air raids have been dismantled in most places. Once Providence decommissions its sirens, the only Rhode Island municipality that will still have them is Warren, a coastal town that installed two sirens for weather-related alerts several years ago. Brown University has its own private sirens, which were In Massachusetts, the only outdoor sirens still in use are in the towns within 10 miles of the Massachusetts also uses the Decommissioning the sirens will save Providence $20,000 to $30,000 a year in maintenance, plus the system was due for a pricey upgrade that would have cost $250,000, Decerbo said. Advertisement If something happened in the middle of the night, like the Texas flooding event, the backup plan to the phone alerts would be to send police and firefighters to evacuation areas and go door-to-door and use megaphones. The Texas flooding has prompted scrutiny over the warning system there, and concerns about cuts at the National Weather Service, which sends alerts about severe weather. Decerbo said she is 'very concerned' about national cuts to The city also contracts with meteorologist Steve Cascione, a former TV broadcaster, to help inform the city's emergency decisions. 'Texas is a really tragic and catastrophic example of how important public alert and warning is, and we want everyone to be aware of what we're doing,' Decerbo said. Steph Machado can be reached at
Yahoo
11-07-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
How to protect yourself in dangerous floods: Weather alerts, maps and more
Deadly flooding in Texas, combined with the recent trauma from fatal Hurricane Helene flooding in East Tennessee, has prompted questions about warning signs during hazardous weather. The Texas flooding has left over 100 people dead and many more missing. The September flooding from Helene resulted in the deaths of 250 people across the South. In East Tennessee, 18 people died in the floods caused by Helene. Flash floods are the leading weather-related cause of death in the United States, the National Weather Service says. Ahead of the arrival of severe weather and resulting floods, there are steps you can take to help protect yourself and your family. Your phone should receive wireless emergency alerts, which are emergency messages sent by local, state and federal public safety agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Homeland Security and the National Weather Service. You don't have to sign up for the Wireless Emergency Alert service as they are automatically sent. To know if you receive emergency alerts, check with your wireless carrier. Another way to stay informed is to follow your county's emergency management agency on social media, where they regularly post information about hazardous conditions. For Knoxville and Knox County, follow the Knoxville-Knox County Emergency Management Agency Facebook page for regular updates. The National Weather Service provides 24/7 coverage and updates on hazards affecting all 50 states, as well as regular weather updates at The East Tennessee office is in Morristown. Experts often recommend buying a special weather radio, which is designed to receive certain emergency messages. They're available at a variety of online retailers and cost anywhere from $25 to over $100. If you're curious about water levels along a specific body of water, check the National Water Prediction Service at It shows anticipated water levels nationwide, including in East Tennessee. The Tennessee Valley Authority advises that if you live in a flood-prone area, you should check your local news and weather channels for the latest information. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has flood maps on which you can simply input your address in the search bar. Check it at Part of TVA's mission is to prevent flooding in the Southeast. It manages the 652-mile Tennessee River with nine dams. But its work has limitations. Water systems that TVA does not control, such as creeks and streams, are the ones most likely to flood, TVA spokesperson Scott Brooks said. You can find a map of each facility and its controlled water systems on the TVA website at Click on the water body nearest you to learn more. During Hurricane Helene, stretches of rivers that did not have dams were hit the hardest, such as the French Broad, Nolichucky and Pigeon rivers. ArcGIS, a geographic information system, shows regions of East Tennessee and their flood potential. Some areas have higher chances of flooding than others, such as: Boone Lake and South Fork Holston River near Johnson City Douglas Lake near the Great Smoky Mountains Hord Creek-Holston River and Bradley Creek-Holston River near Kingsport Painter Spring Branch-South Fork Holston River in Sullivan County Richland Creek-Nolichucky River in Greene County Knox County does not have outdoor weather sirens, nor did the communities in central Texas where the deadly flooding occurred in early July. Emergency management experts have advocated adding sirens for riverfronts that are known for flash floods. The question of whether sirens are an effective way to raise the alarm for floods and other natural disasters is nuanced. They are predominantly used to alert people who are in immediate danger outdoors. "Sirens are still the most effective method to warn the population at large in the shortest amount of time," the Boone County Office of Emergency Management in Missouri said. Floods, especially flash floods, are particularly dangerous because water levels are unpredictable and can rise in unexpected ways. Flash floods can occur in minutes during heavy rainfall, and they can be triggered by dam or levee breaks. Mountains and steep hills produce rapid runoff that, combined with saturated soil, are a recipe for disaster. There are several ways a person can lose their life when caught in a flood: Drowning is the leading cause of death in a flood. It only takes 6 inches of fast-moving water to knock down an adult, according to the National Weather Service. People often die in a flood when their car is swept away. Debris can cause death or injury in floods. Downed power lines can create an electrocution hazard. Hypothermia can cause death if the temperature of the water and the environment are not sufficient to maintaining a person's body heat. Contaminated water and pathogens can cause people to get sick, increase the risk of infections and be dangerous for those with compromised immune systems or people unable to get medical care. Myron Thompson reports on public safety for Knox News. Email: This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: How to protect yourself in floods: Weather alerts, maps and more
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Yahoo
12 Injured in Apartment Building Explosion
A horrific scene unfolded early Monday morning in Detroit, MI, after an apartment building explosion injured 12 people, including six children. According to the Detroit Free-Press, the blast rocked the neighborhood at approximately 4 a.m., triggering panic. Reports say that when rescue crews arrived to the scene they noticed some residents trying to jump out of second-story windows. Fortunately, those residents were safely rescued. The blast at the 12-unit apartment building located on the city's westside shattered windows and ripped away bricks. Among the injured include two adults -- a 30-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman -- and a 3-year-old child who are hospitalized in critical condition and are said to be fighting for their lives with severe officials told the Free-Press that the injuries could have been far worse if not for the fast-acting rescue crews. At this point it's unclear what led to the blast, but a gas leak is a growing speculation. All residents have been accounted for thanks to thermal imaging from drones. As far as the building is concerned, demolition crews are trying to stabilize the structure but officials say that what's left of the building will need to be demolished. Complicating matters was a Wireless Emergency Alert that went out to phones at around 6 a.m. throughout the metro Detroit area. The alert was issued for dangerous weather, missing children and other disaster situations. The alert, however, was only supposed to be go out to phones at nearby neighborhoods. Reports say families in the suburbs woken up by the alert are upset about receiving an alert that didn't pertain to them.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
How to survive nuclear war after a bomb is dropped: what to do, how to prepare
Russia is still escalating its nuclear threats as the war in Ukraine goes on. If a nuclear bomb were headed toward the US, residents would have fewer than 30 minutes to prepare. Actions immediately following a nuclear bomb blast amid fallout could help you survive. Nuclear weapons remain an ever-present threat. To date, only the US has ever dropped nuclear bombs on a population — in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Still, the number of nuclear warheads in military stockpiles continues to grow worldwide, and tensions continue between nuclear powers. President Vladimir Putin, for one, has repeatedly threatened nuclear force in Russia's Ukraine invasion over the last three years. Former President Joe Biden took those threats so seriously that, in 2022, he warned about all-out nuclear war. Just a few months ago, Putin updated Russia's nuclear doctrine to allow Moscow to respond with nuclear force to a conventional attack from a nation backed by a nuclear power like the US. Then there's Iran, which doesn't have nuclear weapons yet but is close enough to building them that other nations are constantly scrambling to subdue its nuclear program. President Donald Trump said in early March that he sent a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei demanding a new nuclear deal, but later ramped up threats against Iran over the actions of Yemeni Houthis. No recent developments suggest a nuclear strike is imminent. However, ever since World War II, the risk is always there. If your city was under attack, you'd likely receive a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) text on your cell phone stating that missiles were on the way and to seek shelter immediately. The Emergency Alert System (EAS) would also send out the same alert message as the WEA across all types of television and radio broadcasts, including satellite, cable, and wireless systems. On top of that, the President may choose to send out a "Presidential Alert" to cell phones nationwide. Russia's nuclear arsenal is capable of striking just about anywhere on the planet. Were Russia to launch a nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missile at the US, residents would have roughly 30 minutes, or less, to find shelter, assuming they were immediately warned of the attack. Some weapons, such as submarine-launched missiles, could potentially have shorter delivery times. "In theory you could park a submarine closer to North America, thereby lessening the warning and flight time," Brian J. Morra, a former Air Force intelligence officer, a retired senior executive in the aerospace and defense industry, and author, previously told Business Insider. If Russia launched a weapon from international waters just off the East Coast, people in cities like New York, Boston, and Washington, DC, might have just 10 to 15 minutes to prepare. "You wouldn't even have time to go get your kids from school," Irwin Redlener, a public-health expert at Columbia University who specializes in disaster preparedness, told Insider in 2022. Arguably, the American public is not as prepared or educated on what to do in the event of a nuclear attack as Americans were during the Cold War, when stocked fallout shelters, nuclear drills, and air raid sirens were in place across the nation. So here's a minute-by-minute guide to help. The minutes to hours after a nuclear blast are a critical window. The potential for radiation exposure decreases 55% an hour after an explosion and 80% after 24 hours, according to the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. Immediate actions during those first few hours, like covering your eyes or hunkering down in an indoor shelter, could mitigate your risk of death or serious injury. Here's how to protect yourself in a worst-case scenario. The US doesn't have a sufficient warning system for nuclear threats, Redlener said. Hawaii learned this lesson in 2018, when the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency sent out an erroneous push alert to people's smartphones, warning of an inbound ballistic-missile threat. "Seek immediate shelter. This is not a drill," the warning read. An employee at the agency had sent the alert by mistake. "It caused chaos," Redlener said, adding: "Some people just totally ignored it, and some people went into panic mode and were jumping down sewer drains with their children." Redlener said the best way to learn of an impending nuclear attack would probably be TV or radio. Those without immediate access to news reports could hear sirens, he said, but the noise might be confusing. By the time you Googled the sirens or called the police department, your time would have run out, he said. The best course of action is simply to avert your eyes. When a nuclear bomb strikes, it sets off a flash of light and a giant orange fireball. A 1-megaton bomb (about 80 times larger than the "Little Boy" atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan) could temporarily blind people up to 13 miles away on a clear day and up to 53 miles away on a clear night. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends dropping to the ground with your face down and your hands tucked under your body to protect from flying debris or sweltering heat that could burn your skin. If you have a scarf or handkerchief, cover your nose and mouth. However, make sure to keep your mouth open, so your eardrums don't burst from pressure. Research also suggests that if you're in an above-ground building, avoid narrow hallways and doorways, which can act like a wind tunnel, accelerating the detonation's shockwaves to dangerous, bone-crushing pressures. Instead, seek shelter along walls in large, open spaces and avoid rooms with windows, if you can. A single nuclear weapon could result in tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of immediate deaths in a major city like New York or Washington. The number of casualties depends on the size of the weapon, where it's detonated, and how many people are upwind of the blast. Survivors of a nuclear attack would have about 15 minutes before sandlike radioactive particles, known as nuclear fallout, reached the ground. Exposure to fallout can result in radiation poisoning, which can damage the body's cells and prove fatal. People should ideally look for shelter in the opposite direction of fallen buildings. "You'd want to go in the direction away from the wind," Redlener said, adding: "Get as far away as you can in the next 10 to 15 minutes, and then immediately seek shelter before the radiation cloud descends." The best shelters are buildings like schools or offices with few to no windows and a basement for camping out. If there aren't sturdy buildings nearby, it's still better to be indoors than outside. If you take cover in a multistory building, choose a central location and steer clear of the top and bottom floors. If the building has windows, stand in the center of a room. Shock waves can shatter windows up to 10 miles away from an explosion, resulting in flying glass that could injure people nearby. The hours after a blast are critical for reducing radiation exposure. Doctors can often treat radiation damage with substances such as potassium iodide, though "there are certain dose levels that you can't do anything about," Kathryn Higley, a professor of nuclear science at Oregon State University, previously told Insider. However, in a disaster scenario, there may not be enough physicians or hospital beds to care for everyone. "There are not enough empty burn beds in all of the United States to deal with even a single nuclear attack on one city in the US," Tara Drozdenko, the director of the Union of Concerned Scientists' Global Security Program, previously told Insider. People who were outside during an explosion should shower as soon as possible, making sure the water is warm and soap is applied gently. Scrubbing too hard could break your skin, which acts as a natural protective barrier. You should also cover any cuts or abrasions while rinsing off. Complete these same steps for pets, too. Don't use conditioner, body lotion, or face cream after exposure to a nuclear blast, since these products can bind to radioactive particles and trap them in your skin and hair. Blow your nose and wipe your ears and eyelids, since debris could get stuck in these places. The CDC also recommends sealing outer layers of clothing in a plastic bag, along with any tissues or cloths used to wipe your body or face. It's safe to consume food from sealed containers such as packages, bottles, or cans, according to the CDC. You can also eat items from your pantry or refrigerator, as long as you wipe off containers, cookware, counters, and utensils. But anything left uncovered, such as fruits or veggies from a garden, would be unsafe to eat. Unless you're told to go outside, it's best to stay put until the risk of contamination has gone down. The US Department of Health and Human Services recommends staying indoors for at least 24 hours after a nuclear explosion. The World Health Organization recommends listening to the local radio for information and advice on next steps. Your cell phone, television, and internet probably won't work, but battery-powered and hand-crank radios should. Over the radio, authorities may advise you to stay put or issue an evacuation to a safer area. This is where you'll also likely learn about available medical aid, if you or someone with you, is sick. If you venture outside, know that nuclear fallout will be raining from the sky. Most fallout from a nuclear blast takes about a week to return to the ground. To reduce exposure, cover your mouth and nose with a damp cloth when you go outside and make sure you don't have any exposed open wounds. Also, avoid any food that's directly exposed to open air like fresh produce or open water supplies. Ultimately, the best thing you can do is remain indoors for the first week while the majority of nuclear fallout settles back down to the ground. This story, which was originally published in March 2022, has since been updated and republished amid Russia's continued nuclear threats. Read the original article on Business Insider
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Ingham Co. to test emergency alert systems, tornado sirens
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS) — If you receive an emergency alert on your phone or hear tornado sirens next Wednesday afternoon, Ingham County Emergency Management wants you to know it is just a test. Ingham, Eaton, and Clinton counties will send out a test cellphone alert next Wednesday at 12:59 p.m., just ahead of the voluntary statewide tornado drill at 1:00 p.m., to make sure the system is functioning properly. According to Ingham County Emergency Mangement, the message will read: TEST TEST TEST: This is a TEST of your phone's Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system. Clinton, Eaton, and Ingham Counties and the City of Lansing are sending this TEST as part of Michigan's Severe Weather Awareness Week. You may also hear the outdoor warning (tornado) sirens activate as part of the Statewide Voluntary Tornado Drill. THIS IS ONLY A TEST! You can sign up for Ingham County alerts for free at . Ingham County Emergency Management encourages you to at least consider where you would shelter if a tornado was actually coming—and potentially go to that safe place during the drill. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
