When an emergency hits, clear communication saves lives. The best alerts aren’t complicated, they’re simple, consistent, and easy to understand.
The 5 Things Every Warning Message Needs
- Source: say who the alert is from (city, county, police, emergency management, etc.).
- Hazard: state the threat and what it means for people.
- Location: explain exactly where it’s happening so people will get it right away.
- Guidance: tell people what to do, when to do it, how to do it, and why it matters.
- Expiration time: let people know when the alert ends or when to expect an update.
Keep the Style Simple
- Be brief: get straight to the point.
- Use plain language: avoid jargon. If an eighth grader wouldn’t get it, simplify it.
- Add context: if you can, include a map, picture, or link for details.
Why Templates Make a Difference
During an emergency, every second counts. Pre-built templates help you send alerts faster and more accurately. You don’t waste time figuring out wording, you just plug in the details and hit send. Hyper-Reach offers templates sized for both 90-character and 360-character WEA messages. WEA messages up to 360 characters can be displayed on devices using 4G LTE network technology and beyond. Devices on 3G and earlier networks are limited to display a shorter 90-character message.
Examples of Strong Alert Messages
Here are a few examples you can use or adapt for your community:
- Severe Weather-Tornado (90 characters)
{Agency}, Tornado Warning: shelter indoors now. {City/County EM}. Until 4:30 PM.
- Severe Weather-Tornado (360 characters)
{Agency}: Tornado Alert for {Area/Zone}. Take shelter indoors now. Warning in effect until {Time}. Stay tuned for updates.
- Missing Person (360 characters)
{City PD}, AMBER Alert: missing {Age}-yr-old {Child/Person}, last seen near {Landmark/Area}. {Child/Person Description}. Call 911 if seen. Updates: {Link}.
- Boil Water Advisory (360 characters)
{Utility/Agency}, Boil Water Advisory for {Neighborhood/Region}. Boil all tap water for at least 1 min before use until further notice.
More Severe Thunderstorm Warning messages, in English and Spanish formats, can be found on the FEMA site here.
What Public Safety Officials Should Do Next:
- Build a library of templates for your most likely risks.
- Test message lengths at both the 90-character and 360-character limits.
- Make sure every template has all five essentials: source, hazard, location, guidance, expiration.
- Keep a short link handy to give residents more info fast.
If you’re a Hyper-Reach customer, head over to our Customer Hub-Stay Updated Menu to download a free toolkit of ready-to-use templates.
