Haywood Alerts

Haywood Alerts are messages sent by Haywood County Government, Emergency Services, Health and Human Services, Law Enforcement, and Municipalities to notify residents of important emergency information,  community news, and traffic updates.

These messages can be sent to your phone, email, or both. To receive these alerts, you must sign up.

We will do our best to respect your time and only send information that is important and timely.

Wireless Emergency Alerts

Wireless Emergency Alerts, or WEAs, are free messages sent directly to your cellular phone, warning you about severe weather, AMBER Alerts, and threats to safety in your area.

They can be sent by local public safety officials like Haywood County, the National Weather Service, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (AMBER Alerts), the U.S. Geological Survey, and the President in the case of a National Emergency.

You do not need to do anything to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs). Emergency and AMBER Alerts can be disabled on most phones, but we do not recommend doing this. 

WEAs will only be sent in an emergency, and you should pay close attention to the message. It will include instructions that may save your life.

Non-Weather Emergency Messages

Non-Weather Emergency Messages are similar to WEAs, but they are sent through the National Weather Service’s alert system as text messages to devices and apps that publish weather messages. 

Most importantly, these messages are also sent to NOAA Weather Radios to alert you to emergencies in your county.

To receive these messages in Haywood County, you will need a NOAA Weather Radio. They can be purchased at most major retailers and local preparedness stores.

You will need to tune your weather radio to: 162.525

These alerts may be sent at the same time as other types of alerts, but unlike alerts that are sent to phones, they do not depend on cellphone service.

If you live in an area with limited cellphone service, setting up a NOAA Weather radio to deliver Non-Weather Emergency Messages is a great way to Stay Ready.

Sirens

COMING SOON — Installation began August 20, 2025

The first 12 sirens are being installed along the river systems of Haywood County, the Town of Clyde, and the Allens Creek Community. In all, there will be 18 sirens along the river systems of Haywood County.

They are designed to work with river gauges to alert residents to flooding in their community. The sirens can also be triggered manually if need be.

Sirens will be live in early 2026, after the community has been provided multiple educational opportunities.

Watch for more information about these events on Haywood County Emergency Services’ social media channels, in the news, and in your community.

How The Sirens Work

Each siren will have a very loud, distinctive tone that will sound when the river gauge, or emergency personnel, determine that a flood is happening or about to happen.

What Should I Do if I Hear the Siren?

• When you hear the siren, DO NOT HESITATE.
• Take loved ones and pets and move IMMEDIATELY to higher ground. Don’t waste precious time gathering belongings.
• Do NOT get in your vehicle or try to drive; it may be too late to drive away safely. Most flood-related deaths occur in vehicles.
• Walk to the nearest higher ground. Even a few feet of elevation can save your life.
• Watch for follow-up messages or emergency responders for additional information. Follow all instructions.

Social Media

Haywood County uses multiple social media channels to inform residents of emergencies, share updates, and provide emergency preparedness guidance.

While social media is an important way to stay informed, due to differences in how each social media platform shares posts with users, it may not be the most timely way to learn about emergencies.

We encourage everyone to use as many different options to stay informed as possible.

Haywood County’s Official social media accounts are a great place to verify and check for the latest information.

It’s also a great way to share the  information we post with others. We LOVE to see our posts being shared, because it helps more people find important updates.

During an emergency, you can expect to see official county pages all sharing the same information at the same time.

This is on purpose so that we share consistent, reliable, timely information when you need it most.