Severe Weather Awareness Week--Watches, Warnings, & Reception

Make a Plan

Severe Thunderstorms

Flash Flooding

Tornadoes

Lightning

Watches, Warnings, & Reception

Mobile Home Safety

Watches, Warnings, & Reception

Wireless Emergency Alerts

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are emergency messages sent by authorized government alerting authorities through your mobile carrier. Government partners include local and state public safety agencies, FEMA, the FCC, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Weather Service. No signup is required! Alerts are sent automatically to WEA-capable phones during an emergency.

Alerts received at the right time can help keep you safe during an emergency. With WEA, alerts 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.

The graphics on the rest lists what types of alerts you will receive. These include:

Extreme Weather and Hydrologic Warnings
Local emergencies requiring evacuation or immediate action
AMBER Alerts
Blue Alerts
Presidential Alerts during a national emergency

What types of WEA messages will the National Weather Service send?

Tsunami Warnings
Tornado Warnings
Severe Thunderstorm Warnings, only when the damage threat is destructive (winds of at least 80 mph and/or hail of 2.75 inches in diameter or greater)
Flash Flood Warnings, only when the damage threat is considerable or catastrophic
Hurricane, Typhoon, Storm Surge, and Extreme Wind Warnings
Dust Storm and Snow Squall Warnings

WEA messages include a special tone and vibration and both will be repeated twice.

Wireless Emergency Alerts - English
With a unique sound and vibration, Wireless Emergency Alerts keep you in the know, wherever you are.

Wireless Emergency Alerts - Español
Con una alerta de sonido y vibración Alertas Inalámbricas de Emergencia te mantienen al tanto donde estés.

What does a WEA message look like?

Examples of Wireless Emergency Alerts in English and Spanish.

WEA will look like a text message. The WEA message will typically show the type and time of the alerts, any action you should take, and the agency issuing the alert.

When you receive a WEA, following any action advised by the emergency message. Seek more details from your favorite TV or radio station, NOAA Weather Radio, news website, desktop or mobile app, or other trust source of information.

If you travel into a threat area after an alert if first sent, your WEA-capable device will receive the message when you enter the area.

NOAA Weather Radio

Known as the "Voice of NOAA's National Weather Service," NOAA All Hazards Weather Radio (NWR) is a nationwide network of more than 1000 transmitters, covering all 50 states, adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Island, and the U.S. Pacific Territories. These stations broadcast continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office. NWR broadcasts official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts, and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Click here to learn more about NOAA Weather Radio.

Click here to look at coverage maps to find the best NWR frequency for your location.

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