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Scanner radio tells you what crews are doing. Official alerts tell you what you should do. This page covers the free alert systems in the US and Canada and how to make sure they are on.
Wireless Emergency Alerts (United States)
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are short warnings that authorities send to every compatible phone in a target area. According to FEMA, they are free, do not count against your text plan, and need no app, subscription or personal information. They look like a text message but come with a special tone and vibration, repeated twice.
- Types: National alerts, Imminent Threat alerts (such as extreme weather or a fast-moving fire), Public Safety alerts, AMBER alerts and opt-in test messages.
- Length: newer phones can show up to 360 characters; older ones get a 90-character version.
- Language: alerts can also be sent in Spanish, depending on your phone settings.
- Location: alerts go out from cell towers in the area, so they do not track you, and you get them while traveling too.
- Opting out: you can turn off most types in your phone settings, but National alerts cannot be turned off.
WEAs travel alongside the Emergency Alert System on TV and radio and NOAA Weather Radio, all part of the federal IPAWS system that lets local agencies send one warning to every channel at once.
Alert Ready (Canada)
Alert Ready is Canada’s emergency alerting system. It sends critical alerts through TV, radio and compatible wireless devices, starting with a distinctive tone. Under CRTC rules, carriers send threat-to-life alerts to every compatible phone in the area, and you cannot opt out of them. Your phone must be compatible, run the latest software and be connected to an LTE or 5G network when the alert goes out. Wi-Fi-only devices and older phones will not get it, so ask your carrier if you are unsure.
NOAA Weather Radio and the National Weather Service
The National Weather Service runs NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards, a network of more than 1,000 transmitters covering all 50 states and US territories on seven frequencies between 162.400 and 162.550 MHz. It carries warnings, watches and forecasts 24 hours a day, plus non-weather hazards. Your phone cannot tune it in directly, but Scanner Radio lists NOAA Weather Radio streams, and the official forecasts and warnings for your ZIP code are on weather.gov.
Apps that add more alerts
- National Weather Service and IPAWS alerts for up to five locations
- Shelter and recovery center finder
- English and Spanish
- Canada: Alert Ready public safety alerts
- Environment and Climate Change Canada weather alerts
- Alerts for home, work, school or family locations
- Wildfire and flood maps with push alerts
- Updates vetted by people who monitor radio scanners
- Nonprofit, no ads; membership is 25 dollars a year
- Official wildfire map for British Columbia
- Evacuation orders and burn prohibitions
- Report a fire in the app
- Live list of 911 calls in PulsePoint communities
- CPR-needed alerts for trained people nearby
- Live dispatch radio for many agencies
Many cities and counties also run their own alert sign-up, by text, email or app, for things like evacuation zones and road closures. Search your county name plus emergency alerts, or ask your local emergency management office. Ready.gov lists local emergency management contacts in the US.
How to turn on emergency alerts on your phone
iPhone
- Open Settings and tap Notifications.
- Scroll to the bottom, to Government Alerts.
- Turn on each type you want, such as Emergency Alerts, Public Safety Alerts and AMBER Alerts. Some alerts cannot be turned off.
- Government Alerts need a SIM or eSIM from a supported carrier.
Android
- Open Settings, then Notifications, then Wireless emergency alerts. On some phones it is under Safety and emergency.
- Turn on the alert types you want and check the sound and vibration options.
- In the same menu you can see past alerts.
- Earthquake alerts are a separate setting under Safety and emergency, and they need Wi-Fi or mobile data.
If you never seem to get alerts, check that airplane mode is off, that a VPN is not interfering and that your carrier supports WEA or Alert Ready on your phone model.
Frequently asked questions
Can I listen to my local fire department for free?
Often, yes. If someone streams your county on Broadcastify, apps like Squawster and Scanner Radio play it for free with ads. If your department uses encrypted radio or no one streams it, no legal app will have it.
Why can I hear the police but not the fire department, or the other way around?
Each agency picks its own radio system and its own encryption policy, and each feed depends on what the volunteer scanner is set to receive.
Do I need an app to get emergency alerts?
No. WEA in the US and Alert Ready in Canada reach compatible phones with no app and no sign-up. Apps like FEMA and Alertable add alerts for other places you care about.
Is PulsePoint available everywhere?
No. It works where the local 911 center has joined, which is more than 4,400 communities. You can follow neighboring agencies to see how it works.
Should I go see the fire?
No. Stay clear so crews and ambulances can move, and follow official alerts.
This site is independent, supported by ads, and not affiliated with FEMA, the FCC, Alert Ready, the National Weather Service, any fire department or the app developers mentioned. Information checked against official sources and Google Play on October 15, 2026. Apps and coverage change, so check in the app before you rely on it.
