Emergency alerts are messages sent to the public to provide timely and reliable information during an emergency. There are different types of emergency alerts, including:

• Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs): These are short emergency messages from authorized federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial public alerting authorities that can be broadcast from cell towers to any WEA-enabled mobile device in a locally targeted area. WEAs can be sent by state and local public safety officials, the National Weather Service, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, and the President of the United States.

• Emergency Alert System (EAS): This is a national public warning system that requires broadcasters, cable television systems, wireless cable systems, satellite digital audio radio service (SDARS) providers, and direct broadcast satellite (DBS) providers to provide the communications capability to the President to address the American public during a national emergency. The system also may be used by state and local authorities to deliver important emergency information, such as AMBER alerts and weather information targeted to specific areas.

• California Highway Patrol (CHP) Alerts: California has six recognized alerts: AMBER Alert, Blue Alert, Silver Alert, Feather Alert, Yellow Alert, and Endangered Missing Advisory (Ashanti Act Compliant). The CHP maintains a list and information for all active alerts in California. These alerts are used to provide the public with actionable information relating to a missing person and affect a quick, safe recovery.

• FEMA Alerts: FEMAs Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) is used to send WEA alerts to participating wireless carriers, which then push the alerts to compatible mobile devices in the affected area. FEMA also issues "National Alerts" issued by the President of the United States or the Administrator of FEMA, "Imminent Threat" alerts involving imminent threats to safety or life, "AMBER Alerts" about missing children, and "Public Safety Messages" conveying recommendations for saving lives and property.

On October 4, 2023, FEMA and the FCC planned a nationwide emergency alert test that will be sent to all TVs, radios, and cell phones. To receive emergency alerts, individuals must have a WEA-compatible mobile device that is turned on. More information about emergency alerts can be found on the California Governors Office of Emergency Services website, Ready.gov, the California Highway Patrol website, and the FEMA website.