Emergency alerts on your phone: what you need to know
Wireless emergency alerts (WEA) are government-issued messages sent to your phone to keep you informed in case of emergencies. These alerts might come from the President of the United States, the National Weather Service, or state and local public safety officials.
Some alerts can be turned off, but presidential alerts are mandatory and can’t be disabled.
How to manage emergency alerts on your phone
On iPhone
- Open Settings and tap Notifications.
- Scroll to the bottom.
- Under Government Alerts, toggle the types of alerts on or off.
On Android
- Open Settings and tap Notifications.
- Scroll down to Advanced Settings.
- Tap Wireless emergency alerts.
- Toggle alerts on or off individually.
Types of alerts
- 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.
Emergency alert FAQ
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.
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