Emergency Alert System & Wireless Emergency Alerts

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Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are short emergency messages from authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial public alerting authorities that can be broadcast from cell towers to any WEA‐enabled mobile device in a locally targeted area. Wireless providers primarily use cell broadcast technology for WEA message delivery. WEA is a partnership among FEMA, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and wireless providers to enhance public safety. 

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WEAs can be sent to your mobile device when you may be in harm’s way, without the need to download an app or subscribe to a service. WEAs are messages that warn the public of an impending natural or human-made disaster. The messages are short and can provide immediate, life-saving information. 

Types of Wireless Emergency Alerts

National Alerts are a special class of alerts only sent during a national emergency.

Imminent Threat Alerts include natural or human-made disasters, extreme weather, active shooters, and other threatening emergencies that are current or emerging.

Public Safety Alerts contain information about a threat that may not be imminent or after an imminent threat has occurred.  Public safety alerts are less severe than imminent threat alerts.

America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) Alerts are urgent bulletins issued in child-abduction cases. Rapid and effective public alerts often play a crucial role in returning a missing child safely. An AMBER Alert instantly enables the entire community to assist in the search for and safe recovery of the child.

Opt-in Test Messages assess the capability of state and local officials to send their WEAs. The message will state that this is a TEST.

Wireless Emergency Alert Tips

Follow the action advised by the alert. The message will show the type and time of the alert, any action you should take, and the agency issuing the alert. The message will be no more than 360 characters. You can get more details from your local authorities, local news or trusted social media sources.

WEAs have a unique tone and vibration, both repeated twice. WEA messages are free and will not count towards texting limits on your wireless plan.

Wireless providers are selling devices with WEA capability included. To find out if your phone can receive WEA alerts, contact your wireless provider. All the major providers participate in WEA on a voluntary basis.

If you are on a phone call when a WEA is sent in your area, the message will be delayed until you finish your call.

WEAs do not track your location. They are broadcast from area cell towers to mobile phones  within the defined geographic location. Every WEA-capable phone within range receives the message.

WEAs are not affected by network congestion.

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Receiving Alerts Away from Home

Wireless Emergency Alerts are not subscription based and there is no need to provide personal information to be able to receive a WEA. WEAs are based on location. You will receive a WEA message, even if you are:

• In an area where you don't live

• Outside the area where your phone is registered

If you travel into an area after a WEA was sent your WEA-capable device will receive the message, if the alert is still active.

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Not Receiving an Alert

If someone near you received a WEA and you did not, it may be due to inadequate cell reception, or because when on a call, some mobile phones will not show an alert — this varies by make and model.

Not receiving an alert may also be because your mobile phone is:

• Set to “off” or “airplane mode”

• Not connected to a cell site broadcasting the alert

• Connected to a cell site that is not broadcasting the alert, undergoing maintenance or is out-of-service

• Connected to a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

• The device is opted out of receiving alerts. The location of the alerts opt-in/opt-out menu typically is in the notification settings menu.

• If your mobile phone continues to receive the same WEA over and over it is most likely an issue with the device. Mobile phones should ignore subsequent re-broadcasts of a WEA but sometimes a device gets stuck in a loop repeatedly alerting for the same WEA. Powering off the device and turning it back on may help.

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The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national public warning system that requires radio and TV broadcasters, cable TV, wireless cable systems, satellite and wireline operators to provide the President with capability to address the American people within 10 minutes during a national emergency.

Broadcast, cable, and satellite operators are the stewards of this important public service in close partnership with state, local, tribal, and territorial authorities.

FEMA, in partnership with the Federal Communications Commission and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, is responsible for implementing, maintaining and operating the EAS at the federal level.

Emergency Alert System Details

Messages can interrupt radio and television to broadcast emergency alert information.

Messages cover a large geographic footprint. Emergency message audio/text may be repeated twice, but EAS activation interrupts programming only once, then regular programming continues.

Messages can support full message text for screen crawl/display, audio attachments in mp3 format, and additional languages.

It is important for authorities who send EAS messages to have a relationship with their broadcasters to understand what will be aired via radio, TV and cable based on their policies. Policies vary from station to station.

Tests of the Emergency Alert System

FEMA is also responsible for national-level EAS tests and exercises.

National-level tests of EAS evaluate the readiness of the system and our national alerting capability in the absence of internet connectivity.

 Why Do a National EAS Test?

• The IPAWS Modernization Act of 2015 (Public Law 114-143) requires FEMA  to conduct, not less than once every three years, a nationwide EAS test. The Act, which became law in April 2016, requires FEMA to help ensure that under all conditions the President can alert and warn the civilian population in areas endangered by natural disasters, acts of terrorism and other man-made disasters or threats to public safety.

• The testing process is designed to evaluate the effectiveness of the IPAWS Open Platform for Emergency Networks and assess the operational readiness of the infrastructure for distribution of a national message and determine whether technological improvements are needed.

• Testing will help ensure an effective and reliable system exists to provide timely and accurate alerts to the public. After each test, an after-action report and improvement plan is created and incorporated into future testing to ensure continual advancement of alert and warning capabilities.

• The national tests encourage communication and strengthen relationships between the broadcast, wireless and emergency management communities.

Before a national EAS test is conducted, there is significant coordination with radio and television broadcasters, cable systems, satellite radio and television providers, wireline video providers, and emergency managers.