When a five-year-old girl was kidnapped in Philadelphia on Monday, Pennsylvania State Police issued an Amber Alert.
A federal program automatically sent the message to smart phones across the state. But some people with smart phones did not get it.
Those warning messages are automatically sent to a chip inside most smart phones. But we found out some carriers don't have those chips installed.
When 5-year-old Nailla Robinson was taken by a stranger this week, an Amber Alert was immediately sent out. People across Pennsylvania got a message right on their smart phone screen.
“It’s actually very, very new and it’s going across the United states, not just Pennsylvania,” commented Kevin Campbell, Radio and Telecommunications at PEMA.
Inside most smart phones is implanted a device using a system called IPAWS - Integrated Public Alert and Warning System.
“What this does is sends to cell phones, there are no charges to get those alerts,” Campbell told us.
The messages are sent to several phone carriers. But according to PEMA, some phones aren't capable..
“Most of the new phones, not all, have chips integrated already so when you receive your phone you're already by default to get those alerts,” Campbell explained.
The emergencies have three types of messages including presidential, where the president can send a message in the event of an emergency, weather alerts and Amber Alerts.
“Even though you're from PA and you're signed up in PA, it'll actually send an alert to where you are, not from where you are,” Campbell continued.
PEMA works with the Pennsylvania State Police in sending these messages.
“As you know everyone has their cells on them, always on them so the more info we get out, more info can send out, the better for everybody,” explained State Police PIO Trooper Adam Reed. “With this system it is very new and with any new system there is always going to be changes for improvements to work better.”
Now if you were in the area and did not get the emergency message on your phone, PEMA said to contact your carrier to see if its available.
You can also sign up for those messages through an Alert PA website, which is attached to this story.
A federal program automatically sent the message to smart phones across the state. But some people with smart phones did not get it.
Those warning messages are automatically sent to a chip inside most smart phones. But we found out some carriers don't have those chips installed.
When 5-year-old Nailla Robinson was taken by a stranger this week, an Amber Alert was immediately sent out. People across Pennsylvania got a message right on their smart phone screen.
“It’s actually very, very new and it’s going across the United states, not just Pennsylvania,” commented Kevin Campbell, Radio and Telecommunications at PEMA.
Inside most smart phones is implanted a device using a system called IPAWS - Integrated Public Alert and Warning System.
“What this does is sends to cell phones, there are no charges to get those alerts,” Campbell told us.
The messages are sent to several phone carriers. But according to PEMA, some phones aren't capable..
“Most of the new phones, not all, have chips integrated already so when you receive your phone you're already by default to get those alerts,” Campbell explained.
The emergencies have three types of messages including presidential, where the president can send a message in the event of an emergency, weather alerts and Amber Alerts.
“Even though you're from PA and you're signed up in PA, it'll actually send an alert to where you are, not from where you are,” Campbell continued.
PEMA works with the Pennsylvania State Police in sending these messages.
“As you know everyone has their cells on them, always on them so the more info we get out, more info can send out, the better for everybody,” explained State Police PIO Trooper Adam Reed. “With this system it is very new and with any new system there is always going to be changes for improvements to work better.”
Now if you were in the area and did not get the emergency message on your phone, PEMA said to contact your carrier to see if its available.
You can also sign up for those messages through an Alert PA website, which is attached to this story.