Emergency Alerts

NHC Emergency Page - Bookmark EmergencyNHC to get information during an emergency in the County.  Information on evacuations, shelters, and what to do to be safe will be updated here throughout an emergency.

NHCAlert - Register here to get emergency information by phone call, text, and email

NHC News Updates - NHC Communications and Outreach Department coordinates newsletters, blogs, and other information to keep you up to date about happenings in NHC.  https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/NCNEWHAN/subscriber/topicsVisit our subscriber page to get information from Emergency News and Alerts and many other topics.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are short emergency messages from authorized local, state, and federal partners.  These messages can be broadcast from cell towers to any WEA-enabled device.  Most often, these messages are from the National Weather Service for certain quickly developing life-safety weather warnings like tornado warnings, from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for AMBER Alerts, and the President of the United States.

• These alerts look like text messages but are designed to get your attention with a unique sound and vibration.
• These messages are short, usually less than 360 characters, and will tell you what the alert is, what action you should take, and who is issuing the alert.
• WEAs are not affected by network congestion and won't disrupt calls, texts, streaming, or other data sessions that are in progress when the alert is sent.
• You are not charged for receiving these messages and you do not need to subscribe.  
• Just make sure your cell phone settings will let you get these important messages. They might be called "Government Alerts" or "Emergency Alert Messages" in the Settings area on your phone.  Older cell phones may not be WEA capable, but all major cell carriers participate in WEA.

You may have seen the message "This is test of the Emergency Alert System.  If this had been an actual emergency...".  These are part of the Emergency Alert System (EAS), a national public warning system that can be used by state and local authorities to send weather information, imminent threats, AMBER alerts, and local incident information targeted to specific areas.  It also allows the President to address the nation within 10 minutes during a national emergency.

• EAS messages are sent through local broadcasters, satellite digital audio services, direct satellite and cable television providers, and wireless cable systems.
• EAS is also used when all other means of alerting the public are unavailable.

NOAA Weather Radios broadcast continuous weather information from our National Weather Service Weather Field Office right here in Wilmington. These broadcasts give fast official warnings, watches, forecasts, and other hazard information 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Your cell phone (WEA messages) or TV (EAS messages) might be turned off...but if you have a NOAA Weather Radio, you can get life-saving information when things like tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm warnings, and flash flood warnings are issued. This system can also be used along with those WEA and EAS message services.

There is an app for practically everything nowadays!  And that includes ways to get real-time weather and emergency alerts.  The FEMA Mobile App will get you real-time weather and emergency alert info, help you send notifications to loved ones, locate emergency shelters no matter where you are, and help you prepare for emergencies.  You can also download weather alert apps from WECT and WWAY, television stations here in New Hanover County.

Emergency Alert System

FEMA Mobile Products

Wireless Emergency Alerts Fact Sheet (PDF)

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)

For Kids: Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and Word Search Puzzles (PDF)

A Guide for Alerts and Warnings (PDF)