HELENA— The City of Helena and the 911 Emergency Center of Lewis and Clark County have been granted a waiver by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to emit a live, one-time, mobile test on Wednesday, April 10 at 11:00 a.m. exclusively in Lewis and Clark County.
It is a live test sent through a WEA System (Wireless Emergency Alert) that enables authorized government entities to deploy geographically-targeted emergency alerts to all commercial wireless subscriber’s wit WEA capable devices.
The tests will be able to alert those of any unexpected hazardous conditions like wildland fires, earthquakes, and severe weather changes like drop in temperature and potential flooding.
Public safety officials and emergency management recognize the city is tasked with managing proper alerts to the community during local emergencies that can possess imminent danger.
Peter Callahan, 911 Center Manager stated, “It’s a test to send emergency messages to any electronic mobile device in Lewis and Clark County and it’s important because it allows us to bypass our normal mass alerting notification system and alert people under duress conditions that we have an emergency and correct measures to take.”
Patrons are not required to do anything when this message is received as the City of Helena and Lewis and Clark County believe it is imperative to test the system for future impending emergencies.
