System Malfunction Sends False Tornado Warning Alert to Some Central Arkansans
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: February 18, 2013
The National Weather Service has issued the following statement regarding an erroneous tornado warning sent to cellphones in parts of Central Arkansas:
We are getting numerous phone calls saying that people's cellphones are alerting that there is a tornado warning "in the area." We have received calls from Bee Branch, Judsonia, Russellville, Little Rock, Pine Bluff Arsenal, Ashley County, and Craighead County. There are no tornado warnings in effect for any of these areas. The only tornado warnings in Arkansas are for Columbia and Lafayette Counties. There is an apparent malfunction with the Weather Emergency Alert System that is operated by FEMA and the FCC. So far, we have heard this is a problem with only one cellphone company.
We are getting numerous phone calls saying that people's cellphones are alerting that there is a tornado warning "in the area." We have received calls from Bee Branch, Judsonia, Russellville, Little Rock, Pine Bluff Arsenal, Ashley County, and Craighead County. There are no tornado warnings in effect for any of these areas. The only tornado warnings in Arkansas are for Columbia and Lafayette Counties. There is an apparent malfunction with the Weather Emergency Alert System that is operated by FEMA and the FCC. So far, we have heard this is a problem with only one cellphone company.
