EAS alerts are not assigned to cities or counties but to "broadcast communities."
A gov't agency will initiate the EAS and preselected radio stations in your area (WBAL and WFED) will distribute the alert...via radio waves...to other local radio stations and cable systems.
The alerts for Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania counties were for flooding due to rivers exceeding their crests. Fairfax probably doesn't have a river or is not considered a flood zone.
I can understand what you are saying, but I still think something is wrong. We have had Cox cable for about 3 years. I have never received an EAS message for my area. They have all been for the Spotsylvania area. I know that there have been instances in the past where my cell phone has delivered a alert for weather in my area, but the cable tv never has.
Again, it's a broadcast community. Every public and private communications service in your area has to comply. You'll get alerts for Spotsylvania and Spotsylvania will get your rarities.
I am still not buying this. Something is wrong.
Today there were tornado warnings in my area in Fairfax county. We did not get anything from Cox Cable. Not a peep.
Just now we get a warning for a severe thunderstorm warning... in Spotsylvania county. Nothing for us. This is wrong.
Same message; different systems. Radio stations (WBAL and WFED) and cable systems (Cox) use IPAWS to distribute messages in a broadcast area, which is required. Meanwhile, wireless carriers use the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system to distribute messages in a geographically-targeted area, which is voluntary.
Some wireless carriers allow subscribers to block some alerts, not all, so that may be worth researching.
The nature of a mobile phone (roaming, visiting, traveling) would explain why wireless systems would distribute a message but "fixed" systems (Cox) would not.
