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In light of the recurring crisis and disasters in our world today, it only makes sense to be prepared.

Whether it is something small like a neighborhood evancuation due to a gas line leak, or something big like an earthquake or a hurricane...it pays to be prepared! 

If you and your home are ready for an emergency...you become free to assist others during a time of crisis.

National Emergency Alert System for Cell Phones Set to Launch

A cell phone enabled to receive emergency notifications, is shown Tuesday, May 10, 2011, in New York. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and representatives from the FCC, FEMA and wireless providers announced that New York City will launch an emergency alert system by the end of the year that will send messages to specially enabled cell phones during disasters. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

Reaching people in the midst of disasters such as the Sept. 11, 2001, attack and the Japan earthquake and tsunami when cell phones are swamped is an ongoing concern across the country.

The Federal Communications Commission announced Tuesday a national emergency alert system that will send messages to cell phones during natural disasters and other serious emergencies will launch in New York City and Washington by the end of year. Text messages are expected to get through even if cellphone service is overwhelmed.

Several government officials and top executives of the participating cell carriers such as AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile and Verizon made the announcement Tuesday at the World Trade Center site, making a symbolic gesture toward those who didn't have such an alert system to warn them out of danger on Sept. 11, 2001.

The plan was approved by Congress in 2006 and will make its debut in New York City and Washington. The rest of the country will participate in it by the end of next year.

Many local governments and organizations have been increasingly using text messages to alert residents to potential dangers and emergencies such as snowstorms and school closings. The new system will be the first of such at a national level.

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg arrives for a news conference overlooking the One World Trade Center building, Tuesday, May 10, 2011, in New York. The mayor and representatives from the FCC, FEMA and wireless providers announced that New York City will launch an emergency alert system by the end of the year that will send messages to specially enabled cell phones during disasters. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)

The new alerts will be free to customers across the nation, with each one 90 characters or less. Consumers will receive three types of these: 1) alerts issued by the President; 2) alerts involving imminent threats to safety of life; and 3) alerts about missing or abducted children. People will be able to opt out all but the presidential alerts.

With more and more people relying on mobile phones for information, the U.S. government is echoing consumers' migration to mobile devices, and the emergency alert system reflects this trend.