09/01/2026
Very good post from another EMA on alerts
CLARIFICATION REGARDING THE EMERGENCY ALERT
There appears to be continued confusion regarding the emergency alert issued in connection with the recent missing-person search, so we want to clarify exactly what was sent and how this technology works.
First and foremost, THIS WAS NOT AN AMBER ALERT.
An AMBER Alert is clearly identified as an “AMBER Alert.” At no point—not in the original notification, the Wireless Emergency Alert, or any information released by responding agencies—was this incident ever identified, described, or represented as an AMBER Alert.
The alert did not say AMBER Alert because it was not an AMBER Alert.
Unfortunately, some people immediately assumed it was an AMBER Alert simply because their phone produced the same or a similar emergency-alert sound. That assumption reflects a misunderstanding of the technology, not an error in the alert.
Technology evolves, and public-safety technology is no exception. Wireless Emergency Alerts are capable of delivering much more than AMBER Alerts. The same emergency notification system can be used for different categories of urgent public-safety information. Hearing the familiar emergency-alert tone does not automatically mean an AMBER Alert has been issued.
We strongly encourage everyone to read the actual message displayed on their device rather than assuming what an alert is based solely on the sound it makes. We also encourage the public to educate themselves and stay current on emergency-notification technology. These systems continue to evolve, and public-safety agencies now have tools available to communicate urgent information that go well beyond the AMBER Alerts many people have traditionally associated with emergency notifications on their phones.
This particular notification was a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) issued to assist in locating a missing adult.
The individual went missing in Fannin County but resides in Cobb County. Because our local alerting capabilities are geographically limited, assistance was requested from Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency (GEMA/HS) to distribute the notification across a broader area where someone could potentially have information regarding his whereabouts.
It is also important to understand that cellular technology does not recognize county lines the way a map does. Wireless Emergency Alerts can be geographically targeted, but cellular towers and their coverage areas overlap jurisdictional boundaries. As a result, people in surrounding counties may receive an alert even though they are outside the primary targeted area.
Receiving an alert in another county does not mean an AMBER Alert was issued, that the alert was accidentally sent statewide, or that something went wrong.
We understand that emergency alerts can occasionally be inconvenient, particularly when received at night. However, before publicly criticizing an emergency notification or the agencies responsible for issuing it, please take the time to read the notification, understand what was actually issued, and educate yourself about the technology being used.
These alerts are not issued casually. They are issued because a human being is missing and someone receiving that notification may have the information necessary to locate them.
And for those upset about being temporarily inconvenienced by an emergency notification, we ask you to consider one simple question:
If this were your spouse, child, parent, brother, sister, or another person you loved, would you want us worried about inconveniencing someone—or would you want us using every reasonable resource and every available piece of technology to help bring them home safely?
We will provide every family we serve the same consideration we would want provided to our own families.
Most smartphones also allow users to manage certain categories of emergency and public-safety notifications. If you do not wish to receive alerts your device permits you to disable, take the time to learn your phone’s emergency-notification settings. Devices can also be silenced or powered off when appropriate.
Technology has evolved. Emergency alerts are no longer synonymous with AMBER Alerts. We encourage everyone to stay informed, stay current, and most importantly, read the message before criticizing the people using these tools to protect and assist the public.
Public safety will always take priority over temporary inconvenience.
