FAQs • Is there a charge for this service?

Is there a charge for this service?: No, this is a free service provided by Loudoun County, however, standard messaging and data rates may apply. It is part of a regional effort to ensure effective communications throughout the National Capital Region (NCR) during emergencies and other events.

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Alert Loudoun

1. How can I maximize the weather alerts in Alert Loudoun?: With the Alert Loudoun system, by providing a physical address with your account, you can customize and receive weather alerts targeted for that address. In addition, you may register for alerts affecting your home, workplace, children’s schools, and more. For more information, visit our Alert Loudoun page.

2. Why is there a confirmation option with Alert Loudoun messages?: The confirmation option lets the system know that you have received the message. Once you confirm receipt of the message, the system stops trying to deliver the messages through the other methods or devices you have selected for your account. For example, the email alert asks you to acknowledge receipt through a link; a text alert to your cell phone asks you to reply "Yes and send;" while the mobile app gives you the option to press "Confirm." For more information, visit our Alert Loudoun page.

3. I signed up to receive alerts as text messages on my cell phone but am not receiving the texts. Any idea why I am not receiving text message alerts?

Your phone or service provider may be "blocking" these alerts. All Alert Loudoun SMS text messages come from the Everbridge SMS short code numbers 88911, 89361 or 87844. What you’ll need to do is call your cell phone carrier to confirm that they are not blocking the Everbridge SMS short code (88911, 89361 or 87844) on your device. For most major carriers, dialing 611 from the device will get you to their service to ask about short code blocking.

Other causes of this issue include:

Not adding Everbridge to the list of 9999 unblock / block Sprint Commands (for Sprint customers only)
Content downloads, such as paid game / ringtone downloads being blocked (they should be unblocked)

For more information, visit our Alert Loudoun page.

4. What is the best web browser to use with Alert Loudoun?: The best Internet browser to use with Alert Loudoun / Everbridge is Google Chrome. The Everbridge platform also supports Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer 11+ and Edge.

5. Is there an app for Alert Loudoun?: Yes. You can download the Everbridge app for your smartphone. Search for the Everbridge app on the Apple Store or Google Play store. (Everbridge is the company whose software is used to send our alerts.) For more information, visit our Alert Loudoun page.

6. I live in Loudoun, but work in Fairfax. How can I sign up for another jurisdiction’s alerts?: Go to the Capital Alert website for links to the alert systems for area jurisdictions.

7. Will my contact information be shared with others?: No. The information that you provide will be used only for notification purposes. We will not give or sell your contact or location information to any vendor or other organization.

8. Is there a charge for this service?: No, this is a free service provided by Loudoun County, however, standard messaging and data rates may apply. It is part of a regional effort to ensure effective communications throughout the National Capital Region (NCR) during emergencies and other events.