### At a Glance

- Wireless Emergency Alerts contain potentially life-saving information.
- Be sure your mobile device is enabled to receive them.
- The alerts are sent out by authorized government authorities.

The National Weather Service and other agencies send out wireless alerts when a tornado, flash flooding, evacuation order or other immediate emergency is happening.

But how do you make sure your cell phone other mobile device is set up to receive them?

First, it's important to note the distinction between these types of messages, known as Wireless Emergency Alerts, and others that you might sign up for through apps or other sources. WEAs are sent by authorized government alerting authorities such as the NWS, FEMA, the Department of Homeland Security and local and state public safety agencies. They're distributed to all phones within a certain radius of the emergency, so you'll receive them for whatever local area you're in.

The alerts are short and contain basic information.

A WEA for a tornado warning, for example, typically reads, "NWS: TORNADO WARNING in this area til 12:15PM CST. Take shelter now. Check media."

You don't have to enroll or download anything to get WEAs, but your phone does need to be enabled to receive them.

Below is a step-by-step guide to make sure your phone can get these important and potentially life-saving alerts.

**iPhones**

-Tap “Settings" and then “Notifications."

-Scroll to “Government Alerts” at the bottom of the screen.

-Check that “Emergency Alerts" and “Public Safety Alerts" are turned on. The green circle indicates the alerts are on and enabled.

**Android**

The instructions may vary on Android phones. These steps are taken from a Google Pixel phone using Verizon as the carrier:

-In "Settings," find "Apps and Notifications."

-Tap "Notifications."

-Next, turn on "Allow alerts."

-Make sure each of the alert types are enabled.

While enabled, a loud tone will alert you whenever you receive a WEA.

Officials say the messages are just one part of the toolbox everyone should have to be ready for severe weather, including multiple ways to receive alerts and a sheltering or evacuation plan.

“On any given day, if a tornado strikes, luck favors the prepared,” Alabama Emergency Management Director Brian Hastings told The Weather Channel Thursday as the state prepared for an outbreak of severe weather.

If you have The Weather Channel app, follow instructions in the video above.

*The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.*