How to enable FEMA test alerts on your phone

Josh CentersContributor - August 12, 2021

Advice

There was a lot of coverage in the media about FEMA testing emergency alerts on 11 August 2021. I warned friends, family, and The Prepared community members so they wouldn’t be unduly alarmed. The time came and went and… nothing.

As it turns out, you have to opt into these alerts, and the way you do so isn’t obvious.

Android: The location of this setting depends on your version of Android. Your best bet is to open Settings and search for “Emergency Alerts” or “Public Safety Messages.” There are two settings you want to turn on: Public Safety Messages and State and Local Tests.

iPhone: Open the Phone app, enter *5005*25371# and tap the green call button. You should receive a confirmation message.

6  

This is apparently now done via the FEMA App. It lets you set up to 5 locations and customize the alerts as well.

https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-app-text-messages#text

 

Good morning Josh,

I follow this stuff. Besides the transmission and receipt testing, much of these programs involve best media selections for our population demographics. This aspect of the alert is working.

Definitely add to this practice drill, FEMA’s overall sermon: “Prepare for realistic worst case scenarios”.

 

do whatever you want – doubt if it has as many evils & drawbacks as described …

but …

if you rely on FEMA or any other FED ABC agency to tell you about THEIR “emergency” >>> you have more immediate problems than any prepper site will ever be able to remedy ….

 

I am not going to fully rely on FEMA to notify me and will keep up with current events and incoming storms, but as an additional layer of preparedness and notification, it doesn’t hurt. It just might be the notification that saves you from that chemical spill or wild fire that popped up in the middle of the night as you were sleeping. Even if it buys me five minutes, that is an entire five minutes more I could be loading up my car with emergency supplies for evacuation. 

 

I did not get any sort of emergency notification this week, and didn’t know that FEMA offered these alerts as a service. Thank you for teaching me and I have now set it up. 

 

Looked at my android phone because I thought I had signed up for all of these but didn’t get a notification either. Turns out I had the State and local tests unchecked. They now are all checked and I should be good to get notified. I’ve only ever received AMBER alerts. 

I also didn’t know there was an alert history option that logs all of the alerts you have received. This would be good to know about in case you accidentally dismiss an alert.

 

This is apparently now done via the FEMA App. It lets you set up to 5 locations and customize the alerts as well.

https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/mobile-app-text-messages#text