How to get severe weather alerts

GRAND RAPIDS, Michigan — As severe weather approaches, there is typically only a short amount of time to make life-saving decisions. For your safety, it is important that you have multiple ways to stay weather-aware and relieve critical weather information.

While all of those methods are great, none of them are foolproof. So we suggest having two ways to receive alerts at all times. 

You should have multiple ways to stay weather aware and receive critical weather information:

The first is NOAA Weather Radio. We often refer to them as the “smoke detector” for severe weather, because they will automatically sound an alarm in the case of a natural disaster or severe weather. 

There is also always your local TV station. The 13 ON YOUR SIDE Weather Department streams on-air and online during an active storm. 

Download the 13 ON YOUR SIDE app now. When you open the app, you can enable your location to be sent active alerts in your area. 

You can see the latest severe weather alerts here.

Local radio stations should alert you if a storm is in your area. You can even set up devices like Alexa and Google Home to alert you with weather notifications. 

Your smartphones also offer numerous ways to receive critical weather alerts. We have a 13 ON YOUR SIDE Weather App that will allow you to track the storm and receive alerts.  

Download our weather app from the App Store for Apple Devices or for your Android device here.

• Nixle is a FREE comprehensive warning system designed for rapid dissemination of alerts and public information to a variety of public mechanisms.
• Alerts and emergency information are received via text, email, web, and social media in real time for localized emergency situations relevant to the community.
• To register for NIXLE ALERTS
  1. Text your Zip Code to 888777
  2. Sign up and create a user profile at https://local.nixle.com/register/

Outdoor sirens are also an option, as they will go off in the threat of immediate danger, but are only meant to be heard outdoors. So, if you are inside, this should not be how you receive your severe weather alerts. Outdoor sirens can also be unreliable, difficult for those hard of hearing, and go off for other reasons beyond tornadoes. 

• Are designed for All-Hazards Warning and can be modified to alert those with special needs including deaf and hard of hearing, blind, etc. 
• Are programmed to notify you of hazards within your area including tornados, severe thunderstorms, straight-line winds, downbursts, hail, hazardous materials spills, floods, etc. 
• Will give you specific information about the storm and emergency protective measures you should take.
• Are set off automatically through local NOAA Weather Radio Towers when a warning is issued. Notifications occur within seconds of the warning.
• Are battery operated and will work when there is no power. Some models are handheld while others are also an AM/FM radio and alarm clock. 
• On average, cost $20.00 per unit. Units are no more expensive to maintain than smoke detectors.

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