Wireless Emergency Alerts
The Story
Wireless Emergency Alerts, or WEA for short, are a new and important weather alerting system that we are recommending all Rice County residents set up on their cell phone. Usually, they are set up to be on by default, but it's a good practice to check this setting twice a year just to make sure. We recommend checking during the changeover from daylight saving time, to coincide with the replacement of your home's smoke detector batteries.
Let us tell you a story.
On September 20, 2018, Minnesota experienced one of the most prolific tornado days in the state’s history. Twenty-five tornadoes tracked across the state, with one long-track EF-2 tornado crossing into western Wisconsin. While local residents impacted by the tornadoes remember the day well, the story did not garner national attention. In particular, the tornado that struck the Red Barn Farm near Northfield, MN that day, didn’t grab headlines either. But it should have.
Image courtesy of Red Barn Farm webpage showing the destroyed barn in the background. 13 people received the WEA tornado warning on their phone, took shelter underground, and were unharmed from an EF-2 tornado.
Yes, the Red Barn was destroyed while hosting a birthday party, but because of timely tornado warnings and Wireless Emergency Alerts, everyone emerged unscathed.
Patrick Winter is an owner and operator of the Red Barn Farm, which is a popular place for wedding receptions and parties near Northfield Minnesota, about 45 minutes south of the Twin Cities. He and his family were celebrating his mom’s 77th birthday on the evening of Thursday, September 20th, when all their cell phones went off simultaneously with a WEA tornado warning. After monitoring the storm for a few minutes, and getting continuous alerts, 13 people (and 1 dog) sought shelter in a 6x6 concrete feed room that was located underground beneath the Big Red Barn. Minutes later, a tornado struck their farm, completely destroying the Big Red Barn. Regarding the WEA alerts, Patrick said, “It saved my entire family, otherwise we’d have been gone; a mile down the road with the rest of the barn”. 1
The Benefits
If the story of the Red Barn Farm hasn't convinced you, here are some other reasons to consider Wireless Emergency Alerts:
It's free! There's nothing to buy. You use the cell phone you own as long as it's newer than about 2012 or 2013.
It's accurate. You won't get alerted of anything that's not relevant to you, up to 1/10 of a mile accuracy. 2
It's with you all the time. Almost everyone carries their cell phone with them wherever they go.
It's reliable. In Rice County, we are on the edge of NOAA Weather Radio coverage area, and reception can be tricky indoors. WEA works better.
Making sure it's on
Convinced? Let's make sure you have Wireless Emergency Alerts set up on your device.
iPhone
Android
When it won't work
There are several instances when WEA may not work, but most can be easily mitigated with a little planning and common sense.
WEA won't work when your cell phone's battery is dead.
WEA won't work when you are in airplane mode or have no cell coverage.
WEA won't work if it's turned off.
WEA won't work if your cell phone is older than 2012 or 2013.
The Bottom Line
The bottom line is, we feel that Wireless Emergency Alerts are an incredibly convenient, new way to receive timely notifications of severe weather that may affect you and your family's property and well-being. We know they have already saved lives here in Rice County. Consider checking to make sure your phone is set up for WEA today. And let us know if we can lend a hand. E-mail us at inquiry@skywarn.us.
Sources:
1"It Saved My Entire Family" - Survival Story of WEA Alerts
2 Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), Federal Communications Commission