Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are free messages sent to your mobile device to warn about severe weather and other local safety threats. These alerts appear like a text message but use a unique sound and vibration to get your attention—even during calls—making them especially helpful for people with hearing or vision impairments.
The Gwinnett County Office of Emergency Management has the capacity to utilize this feature on cell phones to alert users when an imminent threat to safety occurs in an area. The County will send wireless emergency alerts to all wireless phones that are in proximity to an emergency in Gwinnett. Alerts will include the time and type of alert, and any action residents and visitors in the affected area should take. The messages will not duplicate AMBER alerts or extreme weather messages from the National Weather Service.
No app or subscription is needed, and most smartphones already have them enabled.
To check if your Wireless Emergency Alerts are on and active, go to:
Android:
Settings à Scroll down to Safety and Emergency à Wireless Emergency Alerts
iPhone:
Settings à Notifications à scroll down to “Government Alerts”
