Knoxville — An incorrect emergency alert scared and confused many people in Blount County Saturday morning.
Blount County Emergency Management officials say they were working on a missing child alert when the system malfunctioned and sent an alert for a civil emergency.
The missing child was located, but the snafu raised questions about what an emergency alert can entail.
According to the Department of Homeland Security there are three types of alerts.
Amber alerts are issued in the most serious child-abduction cases.
A presidential alert can be sent when there is a national emergency, such as a serious natural disaster or terrorism threat.
The third type of alerts are issued in events involving threats to safety or life.
In all three cases the alert should included how to respond. For example the alert may say to take cover or be on the lookout for an abducted child.
In the event of a real emergency, Knoxville Fire Department Captain D.J. Corcoran says knowing the emergency is a fundamental.
"You want to have a flashlight. You want to have a weather radio or a battery operated radio. You want to have some bottled water," Corcoran said. "If you're on medication you want to make sure you have a couple days worth of medication you're on. Another thing you might want to keep is a wireless charger for your phone."
Corcoran says where you store your emergency kit depends on your lifestyle.
"If you're mostly at home, you want it inside your home. If you're on the road, you might want to have two kits - one that you keep with you in the car and one you keep at home," Corcoran said.
In addition to emergency preparation kits, the Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends keeping extra cash stashed for emergencies, having an escape plan and a plan for family communication.