Irrational Fears

New national alert system is a good thing

Next month—Oct. 3 to be precise—the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be sending you a text message. But don’t worry. It’s just a test of the new Wireless Emergency Alerts system. Many cellphone users are already familiar with the Amber Alert system, which sends out a notice when a child is missing. The new system will alert residents in case of national emergency or severe weather.

The test was to be Thursday but has been moved back.

The new system sounds like a fine idea to us. But there are already some out there who are sounding their own alarm.

One reason is the system is mandatory. You can’t opt out.

But the most troubling thing to a good many folks—such as left-wing pundits and politicos— is that in some cases the notifications will be labeled as “Presidential Alerts.”

Critics seem to think that means President Donald Trump will be using the new system as sort of an adjunct to his Twitter account, sending his sharply-worded missives nationwide.

It’s not true. While a “Presidential Alert” will be issued at the president’s discretion, it will mean that a warning is so important it demands national-level distribution. In other words, it means a national emergency of significant impact.

Karen North, digital social media director at the University of Southern California, summed up our thoughts in a comment published this week on Time magazine’s website.

“If you separate this from the politics and personality of any individual president, then this is a great idea and an amazing use of technology to reach everybody if they’re in harm’s way,” she said.

So don’t let the naysayers bother you. This is a good thing.