What is the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system?
The national Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system enables wireless customers to receive geographically-targeted, text-like messages alerting them of imminent threats to safety in their area. WEA issues the following types of alerts:
- Presidential Alerts - Issued by the U.S. President or a designee.
- Imminent Threat Alerts - Includes severe man-made or natural disasters, such as tornadoes, dangerous flooding, shelter in place warnings, etc., where an imminent threat to life or property exists.
- AMBER Alerts - Help law enforcement search for and locate an abducted child whose life is in danger, under U.S. Department of Justice's criteria.
How to make sure your Wireless Emergency Alerts are enabled on your device
iPhone
Go to Settings
From settings click on Notifications
From notifications, scroll all the way to the very bottom where you can see ‘GOVERNMENT ALERTS’
Note, you cannot disable Alerts from the President
Android
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are located under your device Settings.
- Instructions will vary per Android device and OS version.
How to turn Government Alerts on or off
By default, Wireless Emergency Alerts are turned on for your device. In the event that an emergency alert is issued, you will hear a special sound and
vibration from your device --similar to an alarm. If you want to turn these alerts on or off, follow the steps above, and toggle the indicator in the off position.
Want to learn more? Visit our Wireless Emergency Alerts FAQs for more information