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Emergency Weather Alerts

An alert only helps if it reaches the right people and they know what to do. Understanding the terms and testing your system turns alerts into action.

What do the different alert terms mean?

The National Weather Service uses a watch, a warning and an advisory for different situations. In broad terms, a watch means conditions favor a hazard, a warning means the hazard is occurring or imminent, and an advisory means conditions may cause inconvenience or risk. Read the official definitions on the weather service site, because terms can be updated.

Teach these terms to everyone on the farm, including seasonal staff, and write down what each means for each job. Confusion about terms leads to delay.

Alerts are written for broad areas, and a warning may cover a county while only part of it is affected. When in doubt, take the alert as applying to you. Practice on a calm day: send a test message, time how long it takes for everyone to confirm, and note who did not respond. People who did not respond may be using a device that is off or out of range, which is the sort of gap you want to find before a storm.

• Watch: be prepared
• Warning: take action now
• Advisory: be aware and careful

How do alerts reach you?

Alerts come by weather radio, phone wireless alerts, local notification systems, broadcast media, sirens and apps. Each reaches people differently. Sirens may be meant for people outdoors in town and may not be heard indoors or in fields.

Ask your county emergency management office what systems exist and how to sign up. Do not assume that you are registered automatically.

Wireless alerts on phones can differ from one carrier and device to another. Check your settings, and ask a carrier or your emergency office whether your phone receives government alerts.

How do you make sure workers get the message?

Create a simple chain: who receives the alert, who tells whom, by what method and how people confirm. Use more than one method in case one fails. Include people working alone, in remote fields or in noisy machines, where alerts may not be noticed.

Radios, group texts and agreed signals can help. Test them. Practice a mock alert and see how long it takes to reach everyone.

Write a short script for passing along an alert, for example the type, the area and the action to take. Short, standard messages are easier to follow when people are under stress.

• Name who receives alerts
• Use two or more ways to pass them on
• Have a plan for workers in noisy equipment
• Practice and time it

What should you do when an alert arrives?

Follow your written plan. For a warning, take the action that the plan and the official guidance call for, such as moving to shelter. Do not wait for a second confirmation. See the articles on tornado, lightning and flash flood safety for hazard-specific information.

If someone is injured, call 911. Account for everyone once the danger has passed.

After the alert ends, wait for an official all-clear before returning to normal work. Storms can strengthen, and damage may remain.

How do you handle alert fatigue?

Frequent alerts can lead people to ignore them. Instead of turning alerts off, learn which ones matter for your location and tasks. Many systems let you choose the alert types. Check the settings and ask your local office for advice.

Keep the discipline of acting on warnings even if earlier ones seemed minor. The one you skip is the one that matters.

Hearing-impaired workers and workers who speak other languages may need different alert methods. Ask your emergency management office what is available.

How should alert plans be reviewed?

Review the plan at the start of each season and after changes in staff, buildings or equipment. Check phone numbers, radio batteries and sign-ups. Ask workers what confused them, and fix it.

Include guests, contractors and family members who visit. They should know where to go and who to follow.

Keep a log of alerts you received and what you did. It is useful for the review and for spotting gaps in the system. Invite your local emergency management coordinator or weather office to speak to your crew. Many offices offer short talks at no charge, and they can answer questions about alerts specific to your county.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.