GREENSBORO, N.C. — UPDATE: The NC Center for Missing Persons said there was a ‘template error,’ which is why the WEA message was sent out. It was supposed to be in a lower box, but somehow got put into the top line.
The state has implemented a new set of instructions for pushing out Amber Alerts, to prevent something like this from happening again, according to the NC Center for Missing Persons.
An alert was sent out just before 11 p.m. Thursday, minutes before an Amber Alert about a missing Durham boy.
The message read 'Activate WEA in Region 6'.
What does it mean?
According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), WEA stands for Wireless Emergency Alerts.
WEAs are short emergency messages from authorized federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial public alerting authorities that can be broadcast from cell towers to any WEA-enabled mobile device in a locally targeted area.
WEAs can be sent to your mobile device when you may be in harm's way, without the need to download an app or subscribe to a service, according to FEMA.
The messages are meant to warn the public of an impending natural or human-made disaster. The messages are short and can provide immediate, life-saving information.
Types of Wireless Emergency Alerts
National Alerts are a special class of alerts only sent during a national emergency.
Imminent Threat Alerts include natural or human-made disasters, extreme weather, active shooters, and other threatening emergencies that are current or emerging.
Public Safety Alerts contain information about a threat that may not be imminent or after an imminent threat has occurred. Public safety alerts are less severe than imminent threat alerts.
America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) Alerts are urgent bulletins issued in child abduction cases. Rapid and effective public alerts often play a crucial role in returning a missing child safely. An AMBER Alert instantly enables the entire community to assist in the search for and safe recovery of the child.
Opt-in Test Messages assess the capability of state and local officials to send their WEAs. The messages will state that this is a TEST.
You can read more about WEA alerts on the FEMA website.
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