More Than 20 State, Local Agencies Offer to Take Part in WEA Tests
The FCC is racking up expressions of interest in participating in wireless emergency alert tests in combination with the agency. The FCC released a public notice last month seeking partnerships with local emergency agencies to gather data on how WEA…
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is performing at the local level (see 2204210050). A national WEA test showed the “need for localized WEA testing to confirm WEA’s performance at the local level and to generate data on WEA’s geotargeting performance,” said an April 21 notice by the FCC Public Safety Bureau. The FCC sought “testing partners that represent the diverse environments where WEAs are sent (i.e., dense urban, urban, suburban and rural areas).” So far, more than 20 have filed in docket 22-160, from diverse markets. The Maricopa County, Arizona, Department of Emergency Management Friday became one of the first large county entities to offer to work with the FCC. The county, which includes Phoenix, “conducts annual siren tests around a commercial nuclear power plant and has included WEA in the past several years,” it said: Maricopa “coordinates volunteers annually for these tests and will be able to utilize these volunteers and other municipal participants for this test.” The county said it conducted a WEA test in 2019 “with substantial press and public outreach and will continue to provide public awareness campaigns on the use of WEA and this upcoming test.” Monroe County Emergency Management offered the ability to test in an area that starts in the mainland of Florida and extends through the entire Florida Keys. Idaho offered to involve the entire state in a test. “Our city is a very diverse urban locality (53 square miles) and home to the world's largest naval station,” said the Norfolk, Virginia, Department of Emergency Preparedness and Response: “The diversity and demographics of the city will provide a unique platform to ensure all citizens can be contacted during emergency notifications.” The Ingham County, Michigan, Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said it’s interested in participating in the testing. “This would be countywide and include the City of Lansing and Michigan State University,” the county said. Ingram said it also has an agreement with Eaton County for a two-county test.