Disturbing

Late last night an emergency-alert siren could be heard throughout the house. It took a few seconds to realize that it wasn't coming from the TV or radio, and then a longer interval for us to determine that the sound was being emitted by our three smartphones. A state-wide amber alert had been issued for a murder and kidnapping that occurred earlier that day in San Diego.

iPhone alerts are in Settings > Notifications

The event introduced us and many other Californians to the newly instituted Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) program. There are three categories of "government alerts" fed to smartphones. Amber alerts and emergency alerts, which concern child abductions and natural disasters, respectively, can be turned off, while the channel for "presidential alerts" is always open.

While we do understand that lives are at stake and sympathize with victims' families, the odds of us being able to help are very remote. (And is sending a blast of sound to millions of Californians at 11 p.m. so superior to the old method in getting results?) We'll fulfill our civic obligations the traditional way, by listening to the news and paying attention when we're out and about.

We're open to arguments, but for now we're switching the alerts to off.

[Update - 8/8: neither the suspect nor the kidnap victim have yet been found.]