How to Set Up Emergency Alerts and Weather Warnings on Your Phone

Your phone can notify you instantly about tornadoes, floods, AMBER alerts, and local emergencies. Here is how to make sure those alerts are turned on.

In this guide (4 steps):

1.Check your Wireless Emergency Alerts settings on iPhone
2.Check emergency alert settings on Android
3.Add a weather alert app for more detailed warnings
4.Know what to do when an alert comes

Check your Wireless Emergency Alerts settings on iPhone

~28s

Go to SettingsNotifications → scroll to the very bottom. You will see a section called "Government Alerts" with toggles for: AMBER Alerts, Emergency Alerts (extreme threats like tornados), and Public Safety Alerts. Make sure all are turned ON (green). Also look for "Enhanced Emergency Alerts" if it appears — turn it on for more detailed warnings.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: Presidential Alerts (the highest level of emergency, used for national emergencies) cannot be turned off by design — they always come through.

Check emergency alert settings on Android

~23s

Open the Settings appApps → three-dot menu → "Special app access" → "Wireless Emergency Alerts" → confirm it is enabled. Alternatively, open the Messages app → tap the three-dot menu → SettingsEmergency alerts. Turn on: Extreme threats, Severe threats, AMBER alerts, and State and local tests. On Samsung phones: SettingsSafety and emergencyWireless Emergency Alerts → turn on all categories.

Add a weather alert app for more detailed warnings

~33s

The government Wireless Emergency Alerts are for the most critical warnings. For more detailed and earlier weather alerts, consider: **The American Red Cross Emergency App** (free — alerts, shelter locations, first aid guides), **The Weather Channel** or **Weather Underground** app (severe weather notifications), or **NOAA Weather Radar** app. Allow notifications from whichever app you install and set your home location for local alerts.

Quick Tip

Quick Tip: The National Weather Service also offers a free text alert subscription at weather.gov. Search "NWS text alerts" and your zip code to sign up for email or text notifications for your exact county.

Know what to do when an alert comes

~31s

When an emergency alert arrives, your phone emits a loud, distinctive buzzing sound and vibration even if it is on silent. Read the alert immediately. Follow instructions specific to the type of alert: tornado warning — go to an interior room on the lowest floor away from windows; flash flood warning — move to higher ground, do not drive through flooded roads; AMBER alert — look for the described vehicle; extreme heat alert — stay indoors with air conditioning or go to a cooling center. FEMA's Ready.gov has detailed guidance for each emergency type.

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Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are government-issued notifications sent directly to your phone during serious emergencies — things like tornado warnings, flash flood warnings, AMBER Alerts for missing children, and extreme threat presidential alerts. These alerts do not require you to sign up for anything — they are broadcast to all phones in the affected geographic area automatically.

However, some alert categories can be turned off in your phone settings, and some people unknowingly disable them. This guide shows you how to confirm all important alerts are turned on, and how to add additional local weather alerts through dedicated apps.

Emergency alerts can save lives — a few minutes of preparation now ensures you hear critical warnings when they matter most.

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