Types of Alerts
Public safety officials send emergency alerts to the public using three main tools.
See below for more information about each of these tools.
#1 - Opt-In Alerts (PublicAlerts)
Sent by landline, email, cell call, and text message.
Sign up to receive these alerts!
#2 - Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)
Sent by cell phone notifications - similar to a text message.
#3 - Emergency Alert System (EAS)
Sent by television and radio.
About Opt-In Alerts (PublicAlerts)
Each county has an emergency alerting system that allows them to send urgent information to people based on an address. In the Portland-Vancouver Metro Area, these alerts are called PublicAlerts. This system is called OR-Alert in other parts of Oregon.
You can receive PublicAlerts by text message, phone call, and email. You must sign up or “opt-in” to receive this type of alert.
- How you receive the alert depends on your preferences when signing up. This alert can be sent as an email, landline phone call, internet phone call, cell phone call, or cell phone text message.
- All landline phones are automatically in the system, and some cell and internet phone numbers are as well.
- You will only receive this type of alert if the address(es) you provided when signing up is in an affected area. It’s a good idea to enter all of the addresses where you live, work, attend school, etc. This is especially true if you have vulnerable loved ones who are often away from you. For example, if your children are in school across town and there's an emergency in that area - you would want to get an alert for this! You might need to register in several counties.
City and county public safety and public health officials in the Portland Metro Region send PublicAlerts. They may send them during the following types of emergencies:
- Extreme weather (flooding, landslide, etc.) and other local emergencies requiring evacuation, shelter in place, or other immediate life-safety action
- Critical utility outages (boil water notice, power shutoff to reduce wildfire risk, etc.)
- Request for help locating a lost and/or endangered person
- Police activity
- You must sign up or “opt-in” to receive PublicAlerts. Many people have not signed up and will not receive these alerts. All landline phones are automatically in the system, and some cell and internet phone numbers are as well. So some people may receive these alerts even if they didn’t sign up.
- Alerts get sent to people based on the address(es) they provided when signing up - not where people are at the time of the emergency. While this may be helpful for some people, it could be confusing for others.
- Landline Public Alerts phone calls for large-scale emergencies go out in small batches. This prevents phone systems from crashing, but it can take hours to complete. Time-sensitive messages might not reach people in time to be helpful.
- Most messages are sent only in English. Some agencies may also send messages in other languages.
- You might get many versions of the same alert if you registered many addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. You may find this helpful or confusing and frustrating. It can help you be aware of what's happening to loved ones in other parts of town.
- Cell phones that are not connected to a cell network will not get these alerts. That includes phones that are turned off, in “Wi-Fi only” mode, in "airplane mode," or in an area without cell service.
If you are unable to sign up yourself, contact your county's emergency management agency for help.
- Clackamas County Disaster Management: 503-655-8378
- Clark County Regional Emergency Services Agency: 360-737-1911 (cresa@cresa.wa.gov)
- Columbia County: 503-366-3931
- Multnomah County Aging and Disability Resource Connection: 503-988-3646 (adrc@multco.us)
- Washington County Emergency Management: 503-846-3030 (washco_em@co.washington.or.us)
I already receive Amber Alerts. Why should I sign up for PublicAlerts?
PublicAlerts is different. Amber Alerts are part of the federal Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system. The WEA sends alerts to cell phones in a large geographical area. Sometimes local emergency managers want to target a smaller area. The PublicAlerts system allows them to send messages to specific neighborhoods. See above for more info about the different kinds of alerting systems.
Can I text 888777 to sign up?
Yes and no. Oregon has a program that allows you to text your zip code to 888777 to sign up for emergency alerts. The system is not yet functional in the Portland Metro Area. You can sign up now, and at some point soon it will work. But you should also sign up for PublicAlerts through your County's registration website.
Why can't I just watch the news to get emergency info?
You can get emergency info from television, radio, and other news outlets. But you won't get information as fast. When a serious emergency occurs, alerts go out through the PublicAlerts, WEA, and EAS systems first. Next, messages go out through government social media accounts and local news stations. Also, the power might be out, so you may not be able to access your television and internet. It's a good idea to have many ways to Stay Informed.
What kind of alerts would I receive from PublicAlerts?
Alerts can cover a range of topics, such as:
- Hazardous material spills
- Boil water notices
- Power outages
- Large fires or flooding
- Missing persons
- Police activity
- Terrorist incidents
- Major landslides
- Road or bridge closures
- Major traffic issues
- Public health emergencies
- School closures
- Severe weather
- Volcanic eruptions
- Other dangers
There was an emergency in my neighborhood. Why didn't I get a message from PublicAlerts?
PublicAlerts is one of many tools public safety professionals use in an emergency. It is not used for all emergencies. It only sends alerts to people in the incident area who have signed up.
If you didn't receive an alert, it's possible that one was not sent, your contact information needs to be updated, or there was an issue with local cell service.
PublicAlerts.org is a regional website. Each county has a different PublicAlerts registration page. Visit your county's PublicAlerts system to create an account or update your information. If you live, work, go to school, and play in several counties, make sure to sign up in each county's system.
Will I still get emergency notifications if I don't sign up?
Most landline phone numbers are already included in the PublicAlerts system. Mobile phone and email addresses are not. Visit your county's PublicAlerts system to create an account or update your information.
Emergency managers can also send alerts using the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system. They can do this even if you haven't signed up. See above for more information.
What if my phone number, address, or email address changes?
The PublicAlerts system only works if the information in it is current. Log in to your account(s) to update your contact information.
How reliable is PublicAlerts?
We work very hard to ensure the reliability of the PublicAlerts system. However, it relies on other systems. External phone and internet networks are outside emergency managers' control. We are working with service providers to increase the reliability of these notifications. Below are some examples of service limitations.
- Email: You might not be able to receive emails if networks get damaged or are at capacity.
- Text Messages: Most wireless carriers do not guarantee the delivery of text messages. Outages and congestion may impact text messages from PublicAlerts. Check with your wireless service provider to learn more.
- Telephone: Your landline or wireless carrier may experience network congestion or outages. Or you could have poor reception. This could prevent you from receiving PublicAlerts.
- Website: PublicAlerts.org can handle high traffic volumes. But your Internet Service Provider (ISP) might experience outages.
Who manages the PublicAlerts system?
Each county's emergency management office controls its own PublicAlerts system. Some cities manage their own system (including Tigard).
PublicAlerts.org is a regional website. Portland Bureau of Emergency Management and Regional Disaster Preparedness Organization maintain the website. Partner agencies contribute to the content.
Will you share my contact information with others?
No. PublicAlerts only uses the information that you provide for sending emergency alert and warning messages. We will never sell or give your information to any vendor or other organization.
What is Everbridge?
When you visit your county's alert signup page, you may notice a logo for Everbridge. This is the company that makes the software that public safety officials use to send alerts.
About Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)
A Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) is an alert that can be sent to cell phones in a particular area. You do not need to sign up, but your phone needs to be on and capable of receiving a WEA.
- You do not need to sign up to receive a Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA). These alerts are sent to all cell phones in an impacted area.
- The alerting authority will look at a map of the area where the emergency is taking place. Next, they will decide which areas should receive the WEA alert and how long the alert should stay active. They will draw a circle on the map to indicate the alerting area and set a time for the alert to expire.
- You will receive the alert if your cell phone is currently in the impacted area, turned on, connected to a cellular network, and capable of receiving a WEA message. If you enter the area while the alert is active, your cell phone will get the alert.
- Since WEA messages are broadcasted from a cell tower, your device cannot send any information about you, your device, or the WEA message back to your provider or the government. The WEA program cannot be used to track your location or gather your personal data.
What It Looks & Sounds Like
- The exact message you receive will vary depending on your cell service provider, cell phone type, and cell phone settings. The message might be shorter (90 characters) or longer (360 characters), include a website link or not, and be in English and Spanish or only English.
- When a cell phone receives a WEA, it makes a loud, unique sound and vibration which repeats twice. Only WEA alerts will use this sound and vibration pattern.
How to Make Sure Your Phone Can Receive a WEA
- You must have a cell phone that accepts WEA messages. Most modern cell phones can receive them, but contact your cellphone company if you are unsure.
- Never opt-out of receiving WEAs or other emergency alerts. If you are not receiving WEAs, check the settings on your mobile device. The Alerts options are typically in the Notification Settings menu. Review your user manual or search for instructions online if you have trouble finding it. If you cannot find the settings, contact your wireless provider.
- Make sure your cell phone is connected to a cellular network. Cell phones in “Wi-Fi only mode” or "airplane mode" will not get WEA alerts.
- You do not need to register to receive a WEA, but sometimes emergency managers test the WEA system. You must opt-in to receive WEA test alerts, and the method for opting in varies by cell phone model.
Learn More
The following agencies can send a WEA:
- Federal, state, or local public safety and public health officials
- The National Weather Service
- The President of the United States
They may send them during the following types of emergencies:
- Extreme weather (flooding, landslide, etc.) and other local emergencies requiring evacuation, shelter in place, or other immediate life-safety action
- Child abduction alerts (AMBER Alerts)
- Presidential alerts during a national emergency
- Messages can only be sent in English or Spanish. Spanish messages are only sent if the alerting authority provides the message in Spanish and your cell phone’s language is set to Spanish. The system will not accept letters with accents, which can change the meaning of some Spanish words.
- Messages cannot be sent in audio, video, or other accessible formats. However, some phones offer advanced accessibility settings, such as text-to-speech or reminder tones. There are also mobile apps that can offer similar accessibility enhancements.
- Messages cannot include detailed information. Most messages are 360 characters or less. Some phones only accept 90-character messages.
- Cell phones that are turned off, in “Wi-Fi only” mode, or "airplane mode" will not get these alerts.
About the Emergency Alert System (EAS)
You do not need to sign up to receive messages from the Emergency Alert System (EAS). These alerts can go to all televisions and radios in a region, state, or country. This includes broadcast FM/AM radio, television (text and audio), and NOAA weather radios. It may also be sent by satellite and streaming services.
- Many people are familiar with this type of alert. An EAS makes a loud, unique sound. Only EAS alerts will use this sound.
- On televisions, a message will appear as static or scrolling text and may also be spoken aloud. On radios, the message will be spoken.
- Broadcasters are responsible for how television messages are displayed (font size, color contrast, images, location on the screen, etc.).
The following agencies can send a WEA:
- Federal, state, or local public safety and public health officials
- The National Weather Service
- The President of the United States
They may send them during the following types of emergencies:
- Extreme weather (flooding, landslide, etc.) and other local emergencies requiring evacuation, shelter in place, or other immediate life-safety action
- Child abduction alerts (AMBER Alerts)
- Presidential alerts during a national emergency
- You can only receive an EAS message if you are watching television or listening to the radio during the alert.
- EAS can only go to a very large area because it uses TV and radio stations. The entire region will get the alert, even if the alert provides specific information for a small area.
- Messages are sent in English. Sometimes Spanish audio and text are used. ASL interpretation is very rarely used. Captions are sometimes displayed too quickly or do not have adequate color contrast. See below for accessibility tools that may be helpful.
- There are potential audio quality issues.
Disability Access
GoCC4All is a free app designed to deliver emergency alerts and TV captions in an accessible way to individuals with disabilities, especially those who are deaf-blind. Get it in the Apple Store.
- The TV module provides access to live TV captions using a braille display or a mobile device's screen or voice-over function. Users can easily customize GoCC4ll to fit their braille display setup.
- The app allows users to add an emergency contact to their account. The emergency contact will receive information about any extreme and severe alerts impacting the user, along with the user's location.
- The SOS feature allows sending the user's location to the emergency contact at any time.
The Dicapta Foundation developed the GoCC4All app. It was tested and improved in collaboration with the Hellen Keller National Center.
Other Information About Alerts
Many organizations send emergency alerts. For example:
- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sends weather alerts via television, AM/FM radio, NOAA weather radio, and radio streaming services.
- Some organizations use proprietary alerting systems, such as FlashAlerts.
- Local news stations send emergency messages via social media, television, and radio news broadcasts.
- The Department of Transportation can send alerts via text reader boards on highways.
- In some areas, government and non-government agencies can display alerts on digital billboards and message boards. They may also use outdoor sirens or provide door-to-door notifications. Do not rely upon this. Learn more about evacuation and how to stay informed during an emergency.
In addition to alerts, public agencies have many other methods of sharing information during an emergency.
- Websites and social media
- Town hall meetings
- Flyers, posters, etc.
- Press releases and press conferences for broadcast media (TV, radio, etc.)
- Partnerships with community-based organizations that have unique ways of staying in touch with the clients they serve
We do not recommend that you opt out of emergency alerts.
You might not be personally affected by every emergency. You might receive an alert that doesn't apply to you. Or, you might receive the same alert multiple times. This can be frustrating and annoying. But the next emergency may impact you. And you may be able to relay information to others in your area who are in danger.
You can opt out of receiving some types of alerts. We strongly recommend that you do not. You might miss life-saving information during an emergency.
Why you might receive an alert that doesn’t apply to you:
- The type of alert a public agency sends depends on the type and size of an emergency. In some cases, it may not be possible for alerting authorities to target the exact area of impact. It is especially difficult to target one city or county. For example, an alert might go out to the City of Portland announcing a 911 outage. The alert boundaries are drawn in the shape of a polygon on a map. Some people may get the alert in Vancouver, Beaverton, Gresham, etc.
- Some phones may receive these alerts up to 20 miles beyond the targeted area.
- Some emergencies, like heat waves, impact certain people and not others. Some people are more sensitive to the impacts of heat. Some may not follow social media, news, etc. They need to get alerts by phone.
Why you might receive multiple alerts:
- If you have several addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses listed in the PublicAlerts system, you may receive multiple alerts. This can be helpful if you have vulnerable loved ones who are often away from you. For example: If your children are in school across town and there's an emergency in that area - you would want to get an alert for this!
- If you don’t confirm receipt of a message within a few minutes, the system will try to contact you again through a different method.
- If alerting authorities send an alert to many landline phones, they will need to send the alert in batches. This will help to avoid crashing phone systems. If they do this, you may receive several alerts even if you already confirmed receipt of one.
How to opt-out of Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA):
- This is not recommended.
- Most cell phones are automatically registered to receive WEAs, but you can disable the WEA feature on your phone settings. Check with your cell provider for instructions.
- You may not opt out of Presidential Alerts.
How to opt-out of PublicAlerts:
- This is not recommended.
- You can update your account and remove your address, phone, and email information. If you do this, you will be less likely to receive alerts during an emergency. To do this, visit PublicAlerts.org/Signup and follow the link to your county’s system. Log in and update your information.
- Most landline phones and some cell phone numbers are automatically registered.
How to opt-out of Emergency Alert System (EAS):
- These alerts go to radio and television stations. You cannot opt out, but you can turn your TV or radio off.
Printable Handouts
Share This Information
Download and print the Emergency Alert & Warning Systems Handout and share it with your friends and family. Help make sure everyone in our community understands how to receive life-safety alerts.