WSET.com - ABC13New Emergency Alert System Set to Launch by Lyndsay Tapases

In last month's deadly and historic tornado outbreak, the National Weather Service issued tornado warnings with an average lead-time of 24 minutes. Tornado warnings were in effect for more than 90% of tornadoes. Yet, hundreds still lost their lives.

Although most of the death toll can be contributed to the strength and magnitude of the tornadoes themselves, a portion of that may also be contributed to lack of preparedness. Many people lost power just prior to the tornado outbreak, which may have contributed to a communication gap for those who were unaware of the tornado emergency.

A new cell-phone Emergency Alert System is set to launch in New York City and Washington DC by the end of this year, and beginning next year all new cell phones manufactured in the United States will be required to be equipped with a chip that receives the alerts. The system is called PLAN, standing for Personal Localized Alert Network, and it's purpose will be to send local and national emergency messages straight to cell phones.

The alerts will be issued for events like terrorist attacks, natural disasters, or other emergencies threatening the safety of life. The system will also send out Amber alert messages for missing or abducted children. The alerts will still go through even if the regular cell service is overwhelmed and the phone is not receiving call or texts at the time (in other words, there will be no crash in the system like some of you may have experienced while trying to sign up for Weather Call last month). Cell phone users may opt to turn off the alerts if they choose, except for those alerts issued by the President.

As more and more people become increasingly dependent on cell phones for information, it seems only sensible that the government would respond accordingly. The fact that the alerts will still go through even if power is out or cell service is overwhelmed makes them a reliable, fast, and easy way of getting the public the information they need during a crisis. Hopefully the system will not need to be used any time soon, but if it does, will help protect and preserve life and property.