September 6, 2022 – The U.S. Government – in partnership with state and local governmental entities – will conduct a test of the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system next week throughout the country. In Flagler County, this is expected to take place utilizing mobile phones within a half mile of the Government Services Complex at 3 p.m. Monday, September 12 (with a back-up date of September 19).
“This is the first time that the federal government is coordinating a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) test with local governments. The test is intended to measure the WEA system’s accuracy and performance when local governments send an alert to a small geographic area,” said Emergency Management Director Jonathan Lord. “For example, if we need to evacuate a specific neighborhood, we want to ensure that we can do so without alerting the entire county.”
The Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system is the national system that sends alerts such as tornado warnings and amber alerts directly to cell phones without the need for a subscription.
“This is not the ALERTFlagler system, which we encourage everyone to sign up for,” Lord said. “You can do this at www.flaglercounty.gov/
Monday’s test is set up specifically to alert mobile/cell phones within a one-half square mile area that includes and surrounds the Flagler County Government Complex at 1769 E. Moody Boulevard. The outside boundary goes about as far west as the Health Department Offices on Dr. Carter Boulevard, as far east as the Wendy’s in Bunnell, north to 2nd Court and Palm Drive, and south to a wooded area adjacent to the Government Complex.
Only those with phones that have Wireless Emergency Alerts enabled and are within the identified boundaries should receive the test alert, though it is possible others outside the area will be notified. Acknowledging the alert will return the mobile device to normal. Those who receive the alert will be asked to complete a voluntary survey by going to the website mentioned in the test message.
