Emergency Warnings - Cell and VoIP Users aren't notified

The California fires brought a spotlight to a weakness in our emergency alert system.

Our existing emergency phone warning systems are not designed to work with anything but your hardwired home telephone lines.

This was very evident when warnings were issued during this weeks fires in California. As residents with cell phones and VoIP phones did not get the warning calls telling them to evacuate.

VoIP company Vonage is the largest VoIP provider in California. Their customers made numerous complaints stating they were not getting any alerts. Check their forums.

Vonage claims to have been working with state and local authorities to try and streamline the system. To resolve this - VoIp and cell phone users will need to be included in the reverse 911 call lists.