Soon, the U.S. government will be sending alerts to cellphones and websites to warn of impending disasters as it updates its Cold War-era emergency alert system. In the era of every commuication device now digital, the government will be able to reach vast more people with the alert of a pending disaster. By the end of 2007, the Homeland Security Department expects to be able to send emergency alerts to cellphones, Internet sites and hand-held computers. Additionally, the U.S. government wants to transmit warnings on cable TV channels and satellite radio.

The alerts would be sent to cell phones via SMS, which stands for Short Message Service. This technology would allow the government to send a short text message (up to 160 characters) via network message center or from the Internet via the operator's SMS gateway website. If the phone is powered off or out of range, SMS messages are stored in the network and delivered at the next opportunity.

According to USA Today
"President Harry Truman created (in 1951) the nation's first alert system, which required radio stations to broadcast only on certain frequencies during emergencies. That evolved into the test on TV and radio stations throughout the Cold War that solemnly intoned: "This is a test of the emergency broadcast system. This is only a test."Only the president can order a national emergency alert. The system was initially designed to warn Americans of a nuclear attack, but President Bush last month ordered Homeland Security to extend the alert "for situations of war, terrorist attack, natural disaster or other hazards to public safety and well-being." FEMA will demonstrate the new system, still in its pilot stages, at a public television station Wednesday in suburban Virginia. The Association of Public Television Stations is partnering with FEMA to transmit the alerts to receiving networks — including telephone, Internet and traditional broadcast outlets."