Multnomah County tested its emergency alert system Thursday. Oregon has two systems, OR Alert and the federal Wireless Emergency Alert system. Portland, Aug. 14, 2025
April Ehrlich / OPB
Emergency alerts can play a critical role in keeping people safe from natural disasters and other dire situations. In the era of smartphones, text alerts can be a speedy way to stay safe from earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires and flooding.
What may not be apparent to people receiving those alerts is that Oregonians have access to two emergency systems in the state. Here are the differences between those systems and what role they play in public safety.
The state system
The first emergency alert system available to Oregonians is an opt-in system called OR-Alert. Erin Zysett, a spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Emergency Management, said users go online and submit a phone number, zip code and other location information to sign up for OR-Alert.
“One of the challenges of the OR-Alert system is that it is an opt-in system,” Zysett said. “So you need to go and you need to sign up for those.”
Zysett said the system asks for a zip code so people only get alerts for things happening in their area. In general, she said, people don’t want a tsunami warning if they’re in the high desert of Central Oregon.
“There is something called alert fatigue,” Zysett said. “We walk a fine line to making sure we’re getting you actionable information: the right information, to the right people, at the right time.”
If people get overwhelmed with alerts, Zysett said, they may start ignoring them.
The federal alert system
The second emergency warning system in Oregon is the federal Wireless Emergency Alert system. Unlike the OR-Alert system, users don’t have to opt in. It’s automatic. Anyone who has ever received an Amber Alert for a missing person case probably received it via the federal system. The service is free and sends alerts based on the region in which a cell phone is located.
But some people may have turned the alerts off without realizing. Zysett recommended turning those on if you’re not receiving them.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency offers a guide on common issues that may prevent WEA alerts from reaching smartphone users.
Unlike the OR-Alert system, which is based on zip code locations, the federal system is linked to the GPS location of a phone. This makes it a good option for traveling.
Zysett said if you’re vacationing on the Oregon coast, for example, you’ll get a tsunami warning from the National Weather Service, but you may not receive all localized alerts through OR-Alert.
“I will emphasize that if it were a big enough event, you would get a Wireless Emergency Alert,” Zysett said.
A dispatcher at Portland's Bureau of Emergency Communications dispatches fire and medical first responders on April 13, 2022 in Portland, Oregon.
Jonathan Levinson / OPB
Having a plan B
It’s a good idea to have a backup plan when thinking about emergency alerts. While these warnings can protect Oregonians, the events they are warning about may actually prevent you from receiving an alert. Earthquakes, tsunamis and wildfires can damage cellular towers and damaged towers won’t issue alerts.
Zysett recommends signing up for additional alerts via email at OR-Alert. Emails are accessible from computers everywhere.
Another option for receiving alerts is a NOAA weather radio. It tunes into a national hazard alert system that uses radio waves to warn listeners of major events. The radios sit quietly until there’s an alert and then provide information on earthquakes, tsunamis and wildfires as well as the weather.
The federal Emergency Alert System also uses broadcast signals for radio and television, like those provided by OPB, to warn people in urgent situations.
How do I sign up?
Users of OR-Alert can sign up by going online and filling in their phone number, zip code and other information.
Users of the federal Wireless Emergency Alert system are automatically signed up via their cellphones. Emergency Alert Systems will also appear on broadcast networks without additional sign-up requirements.
