Brazil extends natural disaster SMS warning service to three more states

The residents of the Brazilian states of Minas Gerais, Mato Grosso do Sul and Goias are able to register to receive natural disaster alert messages via SMS since this week. The free service was developed by the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), in partnership with civil defense agencies and mobile operators. 

Brazil expects that by March of this year, all Brazilians will have access to the alert service for storms and other meteorological phenomena. The information is sent by the National Center for Risk and Disaster Management (Cenad) and the State Civil Defense. 

In February, the Federal District, Mato Grosso and Tocantins are expected to have access to the service. In March, it will be the turn of Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraiba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceara, Piaui, Maranhao, Para, Amapa, Acre, Amazonas, Rondonia and Roraima.