Emergency notification 1.0
When it comes to being alerted about an impending or recent
disaster ' such as a hurricane or terrorist strike '
most Americans still get their government information from early
20th-century technologies. Only about 11 percent of the population
get word of national emergencies through new technologies such as
Web sites or text messages. Meanwhile, 82 percent get the news from
either TV or radio, according to a recent survey CDW Government
conducted of 1,448 citizens in the top 20 metro areas. The Federal
Emergency Management Agency should take note: Fewer people are
watching TV ' 2.5 million fewer in 2007 than in 2006,
according to Nielsen Media Research. And there are now more than
250 million wireless subscribers in the country, according to the
Cellular Telecommunications Industry Association. Eventually, text
messaging might prove to be the most effective way to reach those
mobile citizens.
Question: In an emergency situation, what information
source do you turn to first for gathering information and
instructions from authorities?
TV: 64%
Radio: 18%
Friends and family: 5%
Local media Web sites: 5%
National media Web sites: 2%
E-mail alerts: 2%
Local government Web sites: 1%
Text message alerts: 1%
Other channels: 2%