Did you get the first Presidential Alert this morning? How did you feel about it?
The text alert was sent by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the goal is warn residents of national emergencies, such as dangerous weather.
Info on the emergency alert test:
🔹It’s a nationwide test of the same system that pushes public emergency messages like AMBER alerts
🔹Presidential Alerts are only for national emergencies
🔹FEMA & @FCC are testing to ensure it will work when needed
FAQ: https://t.co/Op8T9AEpiF pic.twitter.com/FBC1AF7oHY— FEMA (@fema) September 15, 2018
We took a look at Twitter to see how people responded. Some people seemed annoyed and others amused. We also found a few supportive tweets.
It's that "...or threat to public safety" bit I'm leery of. Who decides what constitutes such a threat?#PresidentialAlert #wea pic.twitter.com/JVNhDi9uPl
— Name Is Not Important (@EverythingZhen) October 3, 2018
Can I unsubscribe? Seriously. How? #PresidentialAlert pic.twitter.com/gErJK6P4pX
— Kristie Holmes (@DrKristie) October 3, 2018
Just got the alert and I don’t like it. What is this? North Korea? #PresidentialAlert pic.twitter.com/YnPZ6hXIec
— T (@Tizia4U) October 3, 2018
Bye. 👋🏾 #PresidentialAlert pic.twitter.com/ODpLitYsBD
— suren (@surenwrap) October 3, 2018
Don’t text me unless we going to war or being invaded my aliens 👽#PresidentialAlert
— TwithMonroe Podcast (@TwithMonroe) October 3, 2018
Shoutout to the President for almost killing me while I was driving in the high way today. #PresidentialAlert
— MARKY MARK™️ (@martinez9920) October 3, 2018
A lot of people are freaking out about the #PresidentialAlert.
I can't say that it was a bad thing to test, honestly. It's been in place for nearly a decade and never once has been tested.
— Denton Melvin (@dmelvin3737) October 3, 2018
Actually me when I got the #presidentialalert. I was just studying & minding my own business but now I’m kind of terrified. pic.twitter.com/dosncwunrt
— carѕyn joneѕ (@carsynn_) October 3, 2018
I didn't receive the #PresidentialAlert. pic.twitter.com/0p9nX9vUGm
— Rianna Cohen 🎃 (@riannacohen) October 3, 2018
Howling 😂 #PresidentialAlert pic.twitter.com/AhfAarerU3
— Dunk ⚽ (@DuncanOldham) October 3, 2018
Thanks for the tip #PresidentialAlert #mcrib #text #mcdonalds #realnews pic.twitter.com/S1S0mCSctc
— Rebecca Ortiz (@RadioBecChicago) October 3, 2018
We are all Ron Swanson... #PresidentialAlert #ignored pic.twitter.com/BgOzg4idzX
— Katie Golownia (@ktgolownia) October 3, 2018
#PresidentialAlert pic.twitter.com/VWBVBYUyIj
— Anne Frankentoe (@Spartacunt) October 3, 2018
In case you were unaware, the ability to send a Presidential Alert isn't a new idea.
"The Communications Act of 1934 established the authority for the President to use certain private sector communications systems for priority communications, such as sending alert and warning messages to the public, during national emergencies," said FEMA in a FAQ explaining the test.
Learn more about it here.
