WEA vs. Linn-Benton Alert: Know How Emergency Alerts Reach You
WEA vs. Linn-Benton Alert: Know How Emergency Alerts Reach You
When an emergency happens in Benton County, getting the right information quickly can make a difference. But did you know there are two different types of emergency alerts you may receive?
Linn-Benton ALERT is a subscriber-based emergency notification system.
Linn-Benton ALERT
Residents can sign up to receive emergency information from local authorities through available notification methods, which may include:
- Text messages
- Phone calls
- Other available notification options
Linn-Benton ALERT can provide more localized and detailed information about emergencies affecting your home, workplace, neighborhood, or community. This system allows the Benton County Sheriff’s Office to send more detailed information about an incident in your area and allows public safety professionals to notify you based on your geographic location (address). This includes lower-level evacuation notices (e.g. Level 1- Be Ready and Level 2- Be Set), general shelter in place notices, and other potential hazards to public safety.
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA)
WEA stands for Wireless Emergency Alert. These are emergency messages that appear automatically on your cell phone when an authorized alerting agency issues certain types of urgent warnings.
WEAs are not subscriber-based. You do not have to sign up for Linn-Benton ALERT to receive an eligible WEA message.
WEAs can be used for situations such as:
- Certain life-threatening hazards
- Evacuation or emergency warnings when the alert meets WEA requirements
- AMBER Alerts
Important: Not every local emergency will result in a WEA. There are specific requirements for when and how WEA messages can be issued as well as severe limitations on the amount of information that can be sent through the Federally managed system.
WEA and Linn-Benton ALERT Work Together
They are not the same system and are used at different times. Think of it this way:
WEA = Emergency alert delivered directly to a compatible cell phone via text only.
Linn-Benton ALERT = Detailed local emergency information that you sign up to receive.
Having one does not replace the other.
For the best chance of receiving timely emergency information, residents are encouraged to sign up for Linn-Benton ALERT and keep their contact information up to date, while also making sure emergency alerts are enabled on their mobile devices.
Don’t wait until an emergency happens to find out how you’ll receive information.
Learn more and sign up for Linn-Benton ALERT through your local emergency management agency.
Be informed. Be prepared. Know how officials will reach you when it matters most.
#LinnBentonALERT #EmergencyPreparedness #BentonCountyOR #LinnCountyOR #WEA #EmergencyManagement #BePrepared
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
“I received the “all clear” message through WEA, does that mean I’m subscribed to Linn-Benton ALERT?”
No. WEA messages can be sent to all cell phones in the area, but they often lack the ability to send additional information about who is sending the information due to character limits. This system also has a lot of “bleed over” or notifications being sent outside of the desired area.
“How do I know if I’m signed up for Linn-Benton ALERT?”
If you receive our test messages twice a year the Saturday before daylight savings time (fall and spring), then you are successfully in the system.
“I signed up for Corvallis Police Alerts (Nixle), does that mean I am signed up for Linn-Benton ALERT?”
No, Corvallis Police Alerts are powered by different software that does not allow geolocation services or share information with Linn-Benton ALERT. Linn-Benton ALERT is powered by Everbridge software.
“Why didn’t my family member receive the alert, but I did?”
Each family member needs their own account if all members would like to receive the alert. There are many ways public information is shared, including social media and websites, but the Linn-Benton ALERT system is our primary tool for getting information out to the public. Unfortunately, only around 16% of the population of Benton County is registered for Linn-Benton ALERT as of September of 2026. The other reason could be based on where a registered address is entered. For example, you may have an old address entered or an address of a family member or workplace that is in the impacted area.
“Is there another way to register for Linn-Benton ALERT or to confirm I am registered?”
Yes! You can email EmergencyManagement@bentoncountyor.gov or call 541-766-6864 if you need assistance. A custom test message can be sent to your account to confirm you can receive the Linn-Benton ALERT.
“Who decides who sends an alert and through which system?”
The Sheriff is ultimately the one responsible for sending out alerts with input from Patrol and Emergency Management. WEA alerts may only be used based on federal guidance and criteria which dictate there must be an immediate life-safety issue to use the WEA system.
“When the last WEA message went out, why didn’t it say who it was from and what incident it was related?”
The limitation of characters greatly impacts the amount of detail and information that can be shared in a single message. In some cases, a link can be provided to a website with additional information. However, to many individuals, this message looks like spam and restricts character counts even more.
“Is an AMBER Alert the same thing as a locally issued WEA”
No. AMBER Alerts are sent from the Oregon State Police using the same WEA software, but they are not issued by local public safety professionals and often are sent statewide.
“I know I am registered, but I am still not receiving alerts.”
There could be several factors, but the most common is that one’s phone settings are set to turn off emergency notifications. Spam blockers can also prevent messages and calls from going through.
“Is there a specific number that the County uses to send alerts from?”
Yes! Generally, phone calls from the general call center number 541-766-6200. This line is not always monitored and is dependent on the nature of the emergency. When tests are sent, they are sent from 889-11. You can adjust your settings for spam blockers to allow these numbers to receive information. You can also save these numbers in your phone as contacts.
“I registered years ago, and I know I have an account, but I cannot link the account in the Everbridge Community page you have on the website”
The Everbridge Community page is used simply to link other subscriptions you may have in other jurisdictions (e.g. Deschutes County, Lincoln County, etc.). If you successfully log in to Everbridge Community, and it shows you are subscribed to Linn-Benton ALERT, then you have an account. If you click on the Linn-Benton ALERT subscription link, it will take you to your member portal with Benton County and you can change, edit, and confirm your contact information, contact methods, etc. from there. If you have any questions or issues, you can contact EmergencyManagement@Bentoncountyor.gov or call 541-766-6864, to walk you through it and troubleshoot any problems you’re having.
“Why is it called Linn-Benton ALERT if I only live in Benton County?”
Linn and Benton County Sheriff’s Office and Emergency Management work very closely together. These accounts are linked to provide additional redundancy in the ability to send information. If you live in a different county other than Linn or Benton County, you can register for the system by visiting the Oregon Alert website or your local Emergency Management’s website.
“I heard about Genasys Protect, is that a notification or alerting system?”
No. Genasys Protect is not a true alerting system. Genasys Protect is a public interface to view evacuation zones and levels when/if they are utilized by public safety professionals. Evacuation zones are preidentified areas outlined in the Genasys system. During a real event, such as wildfire, flood, hazardous material spill, or law enforcement incident, these zones may or may not be applicable. As a result, responder agencies may not designate evacuation areas based on zones.
While you can register for Genasys Protect as well, and it will send you an email or text if your evacuation zone changes, it does not have the ability to do mass notifications or WEA. In all cases, the prioritization is to get alerts out via the Linn-Benton ALERT system and/or WEA over adjusting zones in Genasys.
“Where else can I get credible information for an ongoing incident?”
You can get credible information from local public safety agency Facebook pages, including the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. You can also view information at the Benton County Sheriff’s Office website, which include – news releases, and the Benton County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management “Stay Informed” webpage. Only incidents that involve large-scale emergencies will be shared on the “Stay Informed” page.