Information is critical before, during and after a disaster or emergency. There are several tools available to the Cumberland County area to stay informed during an emergency situation or disaster. However, no one system is 100-percent fail safe and able to deliver notices to the entire population at the same time. Therefore, depending on the speed, location and severity of the emergency, one or more tools may be used to warn the public. Depending on the nature of the emergency, you could be notified using the Emergency Alert System (EAS), Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), or the National Oceanic, Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio, or CodeRED Emergency Notification. While Cumberland County provides the means for notification, it is the responsibility of the public to become familiar with the tools available and use the ones that will be best for them to receive emergency information.
Please visit this link to watch a brief video about how to Stay Informed.
PLEASE NOTE: Each communication tool listed below is for information purposes only and should not be substituted for official notification via a NOAA Weather Radio. A NOAA Weather Radio remains the most effective way to receive timely and official emergency weather notifications.
CodeRED Emergency Notifications
CodeRED is the emergency alert system used by each of the Public Safety agencies in Cumberland County to notify our citizens of emergencies in the area such as severe weather alerts, evacuation notices, missing persons and dangerous situations. To sign up, you can click the link at the bottom of this website; clicking on the “Sign Up” button on Cumberland County Emergency Management Agency’s Facebook page; or by clicking .
Local Municipality’s Website
Your local municipality may have a website with news updates that offer a subscription to ensure delivery. They may also have a social media page to follow in order to receive their notifications and updates.
Social media postings and text messages include information about severe weather, accidents/incidents that impact major roadways or otherwise affect many people, and preparedness tips.
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Wireless Emergency Alerts
Wireless Emergency Alerts are notifications sent by authorized federal, state, local and tribal government agencies to WEA-capable devices about imminent threats to safety, such as a severe weather event or a missing child alert.
The messages are intended as a supplement to the existing Emergency Alert System, which broadcasts alerts over radio or television, and are possible through a collaboration of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the wireless industry.
Mobile users are automatically enrolled to receive the Wireless Emergency Alerts and are not charged for receiving these text-like alerts. Note: Check your phone if you are not sure whether you have this capability. Older model devices may not be able to receive Wireless Emergency Alerts.
The alerts are only sent when there is an imminent weather threat (Tsunami Warning, Tornado Warning, Hurricane Warning or Extreme Wind Warning), a missing child (Amber Alert) or a presidential alert.
The alerts are short, 90-character information messages that will alert you; you may then check the media or other sources for additional information.
These are geographically targeted alerts that are similar to a text message; however, they have a unique sound.
If an emergency alert is issued and you are in that area with a WEA-capable phone, you will receive the message. WEA alerts are rebroadcast until the emergency situation has passed and is no longer a threat to those in the area. If you are traveling into an affected area after the original alert has been issued, you will receive the message. If you are not in your home region, and an emergency alert is issued there, you will not receive the alert.
Other Ways to Stay Informed about Weather
Register for email or text weather alerts through local TV stations.
Download weather apps to your smartphone
Monitor local news media via TV, radio, or internet
Check out the Weather page on the NWS Gray/Portland website at
NOAA Weather Warnings
The best way to receive warnings for hazardous weather is to have a NOAA Weather Radio.
The NOAA Weather Radio is the National Weather Service’s direct link to the public. They broadcast weather information 24 hours a day. The broadcasts include severe weather watches and warnings, as well as routine forecasts, current conditions and climatology. An additional feature, the Specific Area Message Encoder, has been added so that weather radios can be programmed to warn only for specific locations.
The primary frequency for Weather Alert Radios in Cumberland County is 162.550 MHz and the same (FIPS) code is 023005. You can also sign up for email or text alerts via the National Weather Service or a third-party provider at http://www.weather.gov/subscribe