Emergency alerts prove crucial during nighttime severe weather events

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Nighttime tornadoes are significantly more dangerous, because people are asleep and are often unaware of incoming dangerous weather.

This week's tornadoes are a reminder of the importance of having multiple ways to receive weather warnings.

"You can't take the risk that your method of receiving a warning could potentially go down or get delayed," said Dan Hawblitzel with the National Weather Service in Nashville.

Hawblitzel says once they issue a storm warning, cell phone providers will send a Wireless Emergency Alert to all cell phones using cell towers in the warned area. However depending on how clogged up cell phone service is the alert may be delayed.

"You need to be alerted with only minutes to take action," he said.

If you didn't get an alert to your cell phone the problem could be with the settings on your phone - if you have opted out of receiving alerts. But officials say it's not a good idea.

"If you do that, you are taking a risk that when you need to be alerted you will not receive that message."

To make sure you get emergency alerts on your cell phone, go into your settings click on notifications, scroll down and make sure each government alert tab is turned on.

NOAA weather radios will receive their alerts through a different transmitter than cell phone towers and alerts will play instantly.

"When it comes to warnings there are going to be points of failure. In case any of those were to not work, that is why you need a second way to get weather warnings with a weather radio that typically will get there as fast as possible," explained Hawblitzel.

You can also download our weather app Storm Shield app to get notifications. Find it in the links below.

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