"Presidential" emergency alerts don't reach American Samoa, Guam, or CNMI mobile users

Hagåtña, GUAM — The Nationwide Emergency Alert System, now "Presidential", dinged on phones across America at 2pm east coast time. But the mobile phone alert didn't get to this side of the territory. That's because residents from Guam, the CNMI, and American Samoa aren't part of the Nationwide Wireless Emergency Alert.

If you were up early at 4am Guam Time, and turned on the TV or radio, you might've seen an emergency alert. It was just a test. And though many Americans stateside received a "Presidential Alert" on their phones, Guam residents did not.  "Not only Guam but Guam, American Samoa, and the CNMI, we don't have US based service, cellular carriers that participate in WEA, and that's the reason why we don't receive the WEA mobile notifications," explained Jenna Blas, public information officer for the Guam Office of Homeland Security and Civil Defense.

Working with FEMA there's motivation to change the system, says Blas, adding, "There has been discussion with US-based carriers or AT&T seeing what ways to make sure that's a capability Guam might have in the future."  Adapting to a future where social media is how many stay updated and informed.

Read more at KUAM