CHP credits alert system with helping them find missing Fairfield family

PINOLE, Calif. (KGO) -- An emergency alert system is being credited with helping authorities find a missing grandmother from Fairfield and her two grandchildren on Thursday.

To help find the family, the California Highway Patrol activated the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system within a 2.5-mile radius of several license plate reader hits in the Pinole area.

RELATED: CHP says missing Fairfield grandmother, 2 grandchildren found safe

The Warning, Alert and Response Network (WARN) Act established WEA in 2008 and launched in 2012.

Officials are encouraging everyone to activate these alerts on their cellphones.

For iPhone, you can activate the alerts: go to settings, notifications, and scroll to the bottom and tap emergency alerts.