• Presidential Alerts – Sent only by the President. These cannot be turned off.
• Extreme Alerts – Urgent warnings for severe threats like hurricanes or tornadoes.
• Severe Alerts – Serious threats to safety but less critical than extreme alerts.
• AMBER Alerts – Notifications about missing children.

What are emergency alerts for?

They notify you about life-threatening situations—like severe weather, chemical spills, or evacuation orders—sent by authorized government agencies.

Who can send them?

• The President of the U.S.
• State or local public safety officials
• The National Weather Service
• AMBER Alert issuers

Who receives these alerts?

Any WEA-capable mobile device in the area of an emergency will receive alerts—even if you’re just visiting or roaming.

Do these alerts cost me anything?

Nope. Emergency alerts are free.

Can I block them?

You can disable Extreme, Severe, and AMBER alerts in your phone’s settings. But you’ll still receive Presidential alerts.

Do I need a smartphone?

No. Basic phones can also receive WEA messages, though only smartphones can open links for more information.

Are these alerts just text messages?

Not exactly. WEAs use a special network distinct from SMS and calls, so they come through even if voice and text services are congested.