Where Do Your Emergency Alerts Come From? 

The Amherst Alerts Decoder

By Robin Jaffin

This resource was assembled with the assistance of ChatGPT. 

This guide summarizes Amherst’s emergency text alerts from the town, schools, UMass, and Amherst College. Messages usually contain their own instructions. Use this as a quick reference so you know where your emergency alerts are coming from and where to sign up if you wish to receive alerts. 

Where the Alerts Come From/ Where to Subscribe

• Town of Amherst: (emergencies, parking bans, water notices).

• ARPS (Schools): Uses texts/emails/robocalls for closures and safety alerts.

• UMass Amherst: Emergency Alerts (texts, email, site banners, sirens).

• Amherst College: AC Alert texts, emails, calls (text ‘ACAlert’ to 78015).

• State/Federal Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): Wireless Emergency Alerts sent automatically to all cell phones (weather, AMBER, imminent threats).

Common Alert Terms & What to Do

• Shelter in Place: Danger outside. Go indoors, stay put, await updates.

• Evacuate: Danger inside. Leave building quickly by a safe route.

• Lockdown / Active Threat: Run if safe; hide and barricade if not; fight only as last resort.

• Weather Alerts:

– Watch: Conditions favorable, be ready.

– Warning: Dangerous conditions imminent, act now.

– Advisory: Less severe but hazardous, use caution.

• Parking Ban / Snow Emergency: No on-street or lot parking during listed times; cars may be towed.

• Boil Water / Water Use Restriction: Follow instructions in the alert until lifted.

• Test Message: No action required.

• All Clear: Incident ended; resume normal activity.