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Do I need a new phone or a smartphone to receive WEA alerts? 150 150 Sonoma County Emergency and Preparedness Information

Do I need a new phone or a smartphone to receive WEA alerts?

Some phones may require software upgrades to receive alerts, while in other cases you may need to purchase a new WEA-capable device. Check with your wireless carrier to confirm whether…

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Will a WEA message interrupt my phone conversations? 150 150 Sonoma County Emergency and Preparedness Information

Will a WEA message interrupt my phone conversations?

No. If you are on the phone, the alert will be delayed until you finish your call.

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Does WEA know where I am? Is it tracking me? 150 150 Sonoma County Emergency and Preparedness Information

Does WEA know where I am? Is it tracking me?

No. Just like emergency weather alerts you see on local TV, WEAs are broadcast from area cell towers to mobile devices in the area. Every WEA-capable phone within range receives…

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Will I be charged for receiving WEA messages? 150 150 Sonoma County Emergency and Preparedness Information

Will I be charged for receiving WEA messages?

No. This service is offered for free by wireless carriers. WEA messages will not count towards texting limits on your wireless plan.

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Will I receive a WEA message if I’m visiting an area where I don’t live, or outside the area where my phone is registered? 150 150 Sonoma County Emergency and Preparedness Information

Will I receive a WEA message if I’m visiting an area where I don’t live, or outside the area where my phone is registered?

Yes, only if you have a WEA-capable phone, opted-in to receive the WEA test messages (via code or phone setting), and are within the alert target area at the time…

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What should I do when I receive the test alert? 150 150 Sonoma County Emergency and Preparedness Information

What should I do when I receive the test alert?

For the September test message, NO ACTION IS REQUIRED.

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How will I know it is a test alert and not a real emergency? 150 150 Sonoma County Emergency and Preparedness Information

How will I know it is a test alert and not a real emergency?

WEA and SoCoAlert will look like a text message and will be accompanied by a loud tone and vibration, both repeated twice. The September test message will read: TEST Sonoma County…

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I do not have a cell phone, will I still be notified on my landline? 150 150 Sonoma County Emergency and Preparedness Information

I do not have a cell phone, will I still be notified on my landline?

Yes, if your landline number is registered and within the test area, your landline phone will ring and play a pre-recorded message.

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What should I do if I do not receive the alert? 150 150 Sonoma County Emergency and Preparedness Information

What should I do if I do not receive the alert?

Double check your account settings in SoCoAlert making sure your address and phone number are correct. If you are currently in an active data session (browsing the Internet) or on…

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Is the alert based on my physical location or the address my SoCoAlert is registered to? 150 150 Sonoma County Emergency and Preparedness Information

Is the alert based on my physical location or the address my SoCoAlert is registered to?

You will receive an alert based on the address you have registered on your SoCoAlert account. You are able to register your phone number to more than one address, say…

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