A Guide to Mobile Emergency & Safety Alerts

Do you ever get alerts on your phone and wonder what they are or how to turn them on or off? This quick guide breaks down the different types of phone alerts, what they mean, and how you can manage them. It’s part of our ongoing effort to raise awareness and support 9-1-1 education.

Stay Informed, Stay Safe

When an emergency or important event happens, your phone may alert you with a message. These alerts can come from a variety of sources—local agencies, state or national systems, and even your wireless carrier. Each type of alert serves a specific purpose, helping you stay aware of emergencies, disruptions, or critical information in real time.

Not all alerts are the same, and understanding where they come from and what they mean can help you respond appropriately. This page will guide you through the different kinds of alerts that may appear on your mobile device (including your smart watch) and explain why you might receive them.

Wireless Emergency Alerts

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are short emergency messages from authorized federal, state, local, tribal and territorial public alerting authorities that can be broadcast from cell towers to any WEA‐enabled mobile device in a locally targeted area.

Types of WEAs

National Alerts are a special class of alerts only sent during a national emergency.
Imminent Threat Alerts include natural or human-made disasters, extreme weather, active shooters, and other threatening emergencies that are current or emerging.
Public Safety Alerts contain information about a threat that may not be imminent or after an imminent threat has occurred. Public safety alerts are less severe than imminent threat alerts.
America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response (AMBER) Alerts are urgent bulletins issued in child-abduction cases. Rapid and effective public alerts often play a crucial role in returning a missing child safely. An AMBER Alert instantly enables the entire community to assist in the search for and safe recovery of the child.
Opt-in Test Messages assess the capability of state and local officials to send their WEAs. The message will state that this is a TEST.

Learn more about WEAs.

Public Safety Alerts

Texas has a system of statewide alerts designed to quickly notify the public during emergencies. These alerts are issued through highway signs, broadcast media, and wireless emergency notifications to help protect people and bring loved ones home safely. Below are the types of alerts currently used in Texas.

Amber Alert

The Amber Alert is issued when a child 17 or younger has been abducted, and law enforcement believes the child is in immediate danger of serious bodily injury or death. The alert shares critical details with the public to assist in the safe recovery of the child.

Athena Alert

The Athena Alert is used when a child is reported missing but does not meet the full criteria for an Amber Alert. This alert allows for quicker activation and community awareness while investigations continue.

Silver Alert

The Silver Alert is activated when a senior (age 65 or older) or an adult with a diagnosed cognitive impairment (such as dementia or Alzheimer’s) goes missing. These alerts mobilize the community to help locate vulnerable individuals who may be at risk.

Clear Alert

The Clear Alert (Coordinated Law Enforcement Adult Rescue) is used for missing adults between the ages of 18 and 64 who are believed to have been kidnapped, abducted, or are in immediate danger of serious injury or death.

Endangered Missing Persons Alert

This alert is issued when an individual of any age with an intellectual disability goes missing and their disappearance poses a credible threat to their health or safety.

Blue Alert

A Blue Alert is issued when a suspect who has seriously injured or killed a law enforcement officer is still at large. The alert provides information to the public to help locate the suspect quickly and safely.

Active Shooter Alert

The Active Shooter Alert notifies the public when an active shooter situation is confirmed and occurring in close proximity. This alert provides immediate safety information to help protect people in the affected area.

Each of these alerts has specific criteria that must be met before activation. Together, they form a statewide system that relies on both law enforcement and the public to respond quickly in critical situations.

Weather Wireless Alerts

WEAs can send critical weather information directly to your mobile phone to keep you safe during dangerous conditions. These alerts are only issued for weather events that pose an immediate risk to life or property.

Not every storm or severe weather event will trigger a WEA. For example, typical thunderstorms or small hail events often do not generate an alert because they do not meet the destructive criteria. When you do receive an alert, it means that the situation is serious and that you should take immediate protective action.

Some examples of alerts you might receive include tornado warnings, flash flood warnings (when the damage threat is considerable or catastrophic), extreme wind warnings, and hurricane warnings. Each of these alerts is designed to give you seconds or minutes to act before a life-threatening event occurs.

It’s important to understand how WEAs are delivered. Alerts are sent to all phones connected to a cell tower in the warning area. They do not track your individual device or your movements. The system simply broadcasts the alert to every phone that is using towers inside the affected zone.

With the newest version of the system, WEA 3.0, the accuracy of alerts has improved dramatically. In some cases, alerts can be targeted to within one-tenth of a mile, reducing over-alerting and ensuring that warnings reach only those who are truly at risk.

Receiving an alert does not mean every area will be affected, but it does indicate that the danger is close enough that immediate awareness and action are necessary. Always follow the instructions included in the alert and stay tuned to local weather information for updates. Always ensure you have multiple ways to receive weather alerts.

For more tips on how to respond and stay safe during severe weather, see additional resources below:

WEA Weather FAQs
Warnings for Tsunamis (see Fact Sheet), Tornado, Severe Thunderstorm (only when the damage threat is destructive), Flash Flood (only when the damage threat is considerable or catastrophic), Hurricane, Typhoon, Storm Surge, Extreme Wind, Dust Storm and Snow Squall.

Traffic Wireless Emergency Alerts in Texas

Most Texans are familiar with WEAs for severe weather or AMBER Alerts, but you may also receive an alert while driving about a major crash or highway closure. These messages are part of a new and expanding program in Texas designed to keep drivers safe and informed during serious roadway emergencies.

What Are Traffic WEAs?

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), in partnership with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, has begun using the Wireless Emergency Alert system to notify drivers of major crashes and highway closures. These alerts are sometimes called HELP Alerts (Highway Emergency Link Platform).

They are only used when:

A crash or incident has completely shut down a highway
The closure is expected to last four hours or longer
Drivers in the area need to take immediate action to avoid the scene

Because these alerts use the same system as other WEAs, they arrive as a loud, attention-getting notification on your mobile phone—even if you are already on the road approaching the area.

How Do They Work?

Traffic WEAs are sent based on cell tower location, not by tracking your personal device. If your phone is connected to a tower within or near the impact zone, you will receive the alert.

With the newest version of the system (WEA 3.0), alerts can be highly targeted—sometimes reaching only those within one-tenth of a mile of the affected area. This makes the alert more accurate and prevents unnecessary notifications for drivers outside the impact zone.

Why You May Not Have Heard of This Before

Unlike Amber Alerts or weather alerts, traffic-related WEAs are still new to Texas. The program began as a pilot in El Paso in 2022 and has since expanded to additional regions, including North Texas. TxDOT and emergency management officials are continuing to evaluate and expand its use across the state.

That means not everyone in Texas has seen one yet—but as the system grows, more drivers will benefit from real-time alerts about severe roadway disruptions.

What To Do If You Receive One

If a Traffic WEA appears on your phone while driving:

Pay attention to the message and follow any detour or safety instructions provided.
Do not stop in travel lanes to read the alert. Pull over safely if you need time to review.
Expect long delays or full closures ahead. Consider alternate routes immediately.

Cell Phone Carrier Alerts

In addition to emergency alerts from public safety agencies and weather services, you may also receive alerts directly from your cell phone carrier (such as AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, etc.). These are not government-issued alerts, but rather notifications from your provider.

Examples of carrier-specific alerts include:

Service outages or disruptions – If there’s an unexpected issue in your area that affects calling, texting, or data, your carrier may send a notice to let you know.
Network maintenance updates – Carriers sometimes perform upgrades or repairs that temporarily affect service, and they may notify customers in advance.
Billing and account-related messages – Some carriers use alerts to remind customers about payments, plan updates, or other account changes.
Promotional messages – While not emergencies, carriers may send texts or push notifications about new plans, features, or special offers.

Unlike government-issued alerts (such as AMBER or weather warnings), carrier-specific alerts are controlled by your mobile provider. They are generally informational and not tied to public safety responses. However, it’s important to know the difference so you can recognize which alerts require immediate attention and which are service-related updates.

How to Know When Alerts Are Being Tested

From time to time, you may receive a test alert on your phone, television, or radio. These alerts are part of the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system and the Emergency Alert System (EAS), and they are critical for ensuring that the system will work properly when a real emergency happens.

What Are Test Alerts?

Test alerts are practice messages sent by authorized agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Texas Division of Emergency Management, or your local public safety officials.

These messages are clearly labeled as a test and are not an indication of any current threat. Their purpose is to make sure the alert system is functioning as expected and that messages can reach the public quickly and reliably.

Why You Might Receive One

You may receive a test alert:

During nationwide or statewide tests of the system, often announced ahead of time by FEMA and local media.
As part of a regional or local test, where officials check system performance in a smaller area.
If your phone carrier or local emergency management agency is conducting technical checks to confirm compatibility with the WEA system.

What to Do When You Get a Test Alert

Do not panic — these alerts will always say they are a test.
No action is required unless the message specifically asks you to provide feedback.
Use it as a reminder to think about your family emergency plan and whether you’re prepared if a real alert were sent.

Why Test Alerts Matter

Regular testing ensures that when a real emergency occurs—whether a tornado, missing child, or major roadway closure—the system is ready to get life-saving information to you without delay.

Testing also helps improve the accuracy of alerts, reduce over-alerting, and ensure compatibility with newer technologies like WEA 3.0, which can target alerts down to one-tenth of a mile.

Staying Informed

Most nationwide and statewide tests are announced in advance by FEMA, the FCC, or Texas officials. Follow official sources on social media, local news outlets, or government websites to know when a test is scheduled.

Local vs. Universal Alerts

Local Alerts

Local alerts are state, tribal, local authorities, campus, or city specific (including the National Weather Service) that require registration via a website or mobile app.

Examples: road closures, water main break, boil water notice, missing person, elections, building closures, burn ban, weather warnings such as tornadoes, flash floods, or hurricanes

Can be delivered via multiple pathways:

WEAs - texts
EAS - over the radio and television
Local systems - opt-in services for calls, texts, or emails

Users can opt-out or block local alerts. Local Awareness Alerts can be turned on to use your approximate location to improve the timeliness, accuracy, and reliability of emergency alerts.

For local alerts, the message will typically mention the name of the issuing entity, such as the “National Weather Service”, a county’s emergency management agency, or a specific state.

Universal Alerts

Universal alerts are state, tribal, or local authorities using the IPAWS. They are limited to critical, life threatening alerts.

Examples: severe weather, AMBER alerts, active shooter, or Presidential alerts such as a national-level disaster crisis or disaster.

Can be delivered via multiple pathways:

WEAs - texts
EAS - over the radio and television

Messages cannot be blocked on any receiving device but may be turned off in settings. Most alerts specify the issuing authority, which is the easiest way to identify its scope.

For universal alerts, the message will typically explicitly state it is a “National Alert” or “Presidential Alert” from FEMA or the President.

Share and Spread the Word

The infographics and resources on this page are free to use. Share them on social media, print them for handouts, or use them in classes and presentations. Our goal is to make 9-1-1 education simple, easy to understand, and easy to share with your community.

Thank you for helping us raise awareness and keep everyone informed and safe.