I found this item in a box marked, “Wait, you mean they’re not doing this already?!?” The National Weather Service is going to start sending severe weather warning via text message. Time reports that, starting today,: “the system will notify people about approaching tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards and other threats.” Probably part of the reason we haven’t seen this until now is that the service will only be available on smartphones (as opposed to those dumbphones that can just make calls without wires clear across the world). The Verge writes:

The system is only compatible with newer devices, and will not be available in all areas, but the NWS says that “millions of smartphone users” will start receiving messages soon. Apple intends to support the service this fall, but it’s not clear whether the support will be limited to new hardware, or if all its devices will receive an update.