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Emergency Preparation Information and resources for Fairfax County Virginia

Emergency or Weather AlertsFor the Washington DC Metro area
sign up at http://www.capitalert.gov

Family Communications Plan - Learn more at:  http://www.readynova.org

Document and insure your property & Financial Preparedness
online at: http://www.ready.gov/financial-preparedness

Get trained - Community Emergency Response Teams
http://www.ready.gov/get-involved , search “CERT.”

Office of Emergency Managment
https://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/emergency/readyfairfax

 

 

On September 29, 2016, the FCC adopted rules to update and strengthen Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), which are alerts that are sent to wireless phones.  The updated rules are intended to promote the wider use and effectiveness of WEA and to make such messages more accessible for individuals with disabilities.

Highlights of the updated rules include: 

  • Increase the maximum length of WEA messages (from 90 to 360 characters) for 4G LTE and future networks;
  • Require participating wireless providers to support inclusion of embedded phone numbers and URLs in all WEA alerts;
  • Require participating wireless providers to deliver the alerts to more specifically targeted geographic areas to avoid “over-alerting”;
  • Create a new class of alerts (“Public Safety Messages”) to convey essential, recommended actions that can save lives or property (e.g. emergency shelter locations or a boil water order);
  • Require participating wireless providers to support transmission of Spanish-language alerts; and
  • Make it easier for state and local authorities to test WEA, train personnel, and raise public awareness about the service.

    The FCC also released a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (FNPRM) to invite public comment on: