WHY ONLY A THIRD OF US GOT THE EMERGENCY ALERT
Civil Defence sent out a nationwide emergency alert to our cell phones this evening, but if you didn’t get the alert, you’re not alone.
Only about a third of phones will have received the emergency alert.
There are several reasons why your phone may not have received it:
1. Many older phones will not be capable of recieving the alert. To check if your phone is capable.
2. Your phone needs to have the latest software. Go into your settings to check if you have an update available.
3. You need to have the setting for emergency alerts on your phone turned on. On iPhones, go into Settings, Notifications, then at the bottom there will be a toggle for ‘Emergency Alerts.” Switch this on.
On Android phones, some may not have this option or it may be in a different location. Generally you will find it by going into your messages, opening Settings from there, and finding something which says ‘Cell Broadcast’ or something along the lines of ‘Emergency Broadcasts.’ Turn this on.
4. You may have an imported/overseas phone. If you didn’t buy your phone from a local provider in NZ (e.g. Spark, Vodafone, Skinny, Apple NZ etc) it may be an import which likely won’t be able to receive the emergency alerts.
What are Emergency Mobile Alerts?
Emergency Mobile Alerts are messages about emergencies sent by authorised emergency agencies to mobile phones enabled to receive Emergency Mobile Alerts. They can be targeted to areas affected by serious hazards.
If your phone is on, capable and inside the targeted area, you should get the alerts. You don’t have to download an app or subscribe to a service, just ensure your phone is capable and updated.
Emergency Mobile Alert is an additional channel to help keep people safe if there is an emergency. It does not replace other emergency alerts. If you feel your life is in danger, don’t wait for an official warning. Take immediate action.
How does Emergency Mobile Alert work?
Emergency Mobile Alert uses a dedicated signal, so it’s not affected by network congestion. This can make Emergency Mobile Alert more reliable in an emergency when mobile phone traffic or people accessing websites could overload the network.
The alert will be broadcast to areas affected by serious hazards for a set period of time. Any capable phone entering this area during the broadcast period will receive the alert.
It is expected around one third of phones will initially be able to receive the alerts. This number is expected to rise substantially over time as people replace their phones with newer models. Emergency Mobile Alert capable phones should work on all mobile networks in New Zealand.
Poll: Have you ever had a scary flight?
A plane flying from Christchurch to Wellington on Sunday had smoke billowing out of the engine and upon landing, passengers had to open the emergency exit and jump out. Have you had any scary flying experiences?
-
56.6% Yes!
-
43.4% No, it's always been smooth flying
ALEXANDER ROAD SPEED LIMIT
Alexander Road in Trentham-Wallaceville of which 50% separates a golf course from a military encampment enclosure and the rest has mostly high fenced off industrial and residential areas on both sides, should have a 70km speed restriction.
Only a short time ago the road had a 80km restriction and was reduced to a pedestrian 50km much to the frustration of many. It has never been an accident prone stretch of road.
The several round-abouts ensure speed is reduced to 30-40km when these things occur.
I recently stayed a few days in Feilding - often given the title of the best town in NZ - and one of the lengthy main streets has a 70km speed restriction despite a predominance of unfenced residential properties on both sides.
LIVE Q&A: Financial well-being with Cat Rikihana
Today (Wednesday) we're having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with Cat Rikihana who is a financial mentor, educator and financial capability practitioner at Financial Freedom Trust in the Manawatū.
Cat Rikihana (Ngai Tahu) like many financial mentors around Aotearoa, works with individuals, groups and whānau to successfully navigate financial stress and hardship. Mentors work alongside whānau to increase confidence and skills in personal money management and advocate with and for clients. Cat enjoys delivering online and face-to-face workshops which provide opportunities to normalise money conversations and encourages people to make time to consider their financial well-being.
Cat is also an independent financial well-being coach, educator and indigenous life coach at Restore Wellness Network. She is a published writer and currently in the process of writing her first non-fiction book: 'A financial self-care guide for women in Aotearoa.'
She'd love to answer any questions you may have around your budgeting and spending habits, strategies for saving, retirement planning and debt. (Don't be shy, but be mindful about what you disclose!)
↓ Share your questions now and Cat will reply to your comment below ↓
Loading…
