Turn on free emergency alerts for weather and disasters

Your phone can warn you about storms, fires, floods and missing children for free. Check the settings, add the free FEMA app, and know the fake-alert scams.

⏱ About 5 minutes · 6 steps
What you'll need
  • Your iPhone or Android phone
  • About 5 minutes

  1. Know what you get free

    AlertWhat it isCost
    Wireless Emergency AlertsBuilt into phones: extreme weather, local emergencies, AMBER alertsFree, no app or sign-up
    FEMA appNational Weather Service alerts for places you choose, plus shelter and safety tipsFree
    weather.govOfficial forecasts and warnings for your areaFree
    Your county or city alertsLocal text or email alerts. Ready.gov explains how to find yoursUsually free (normal text rates may apply)

  2. Check your iPhone settings

    Phone screens showing Settings, then Notifications, then Government Alerts on iPhone, and Settings, then Safety and emergency, then Wireless emergency alerts on Android
    Where the alert switches live on each kind of phone.
    1. Open Settings > Notifications.
    2. Scroll to the very bottom to Government Alerts.
    3. Make sure Emergency Alerts and Public Safety Alerts are on. AMBER Alerts are there too.

    Details: Apple's government and emergency alerts help page.

  3. Check your Android settings

    1. Open Settings > Safety & emergency > Wireless emergency alerts. (On some phones it's under Notifications > Advanced settings; search Settings for "emergency alerts".)
    2. Turn on Allow alerts and the alert types you want.

    Details: Google's Android emergency help page.

  4. Add the free FEMA app (optional)

    1. Install the FEMA app only from the Apple App Store or Google Play. The developer should be FEMA. FEMA lists it on its mobile products page.
    2. Allow notifications and add the places you care about, like your home and a parent's town.

  5. Sign up for local alerts

    Many counties and cities send their own free text alerts. Search for your county's official site (the address usually ends in .gov) and look for "emergency alerts". Ready.gov/alerts explains the options.

  6. Spot fake alerts

    ⚠️ Watch out: Real Wireless Emergency Alerts never ask you to tap a link to "confirm", pay, or enter your details. After disasters, scammers pretend to be FEMA. FEMA never charges a fee to apply for help; apply only at DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. See FEMA's disaster fraud page.

🎉 All done! Your phone is set to warn you for free. Nothing here ever costs money; if something asks you to pay for alerts, skip it.

Related game: Safe or Risky?. Related explainer: 5G vs. 4G vs. Wi-Fi calling: what's the difference? .

Official help pages

Steps checked against these pages in October 2026. If a button looks different, look for a similar label.