The test was meant to ensure that the WEA system is an effective means of warning the public about national emergencies. However, Hamilton Bean Associate Professor in the Communication Department and an expert in WEA technology—says texts and alerts can actually make a bad situation worse by delaying action. Turns out that when people get an emergency text from the president, they tend to freak out just a little bit and start digging around for more information instead of, say, running for cover.

People who study emergency alerts have a big problem with FEMA’s presidential texts
Fast Company, Oct 3