Define alert template content

The Content section is used to define the key parts of an alert or alert template in the system: title, body, type, response options, website links, locations, and attachments.

  1. To create an alert or alert template in a language other than the default language displayed on the screen, click the button beside the Type field and select a language. This does not change the language displayed on the screen. Instead, it changes the language that the message is delivered in. If text-to-speech is enabled, the audio portion of the sent alert will be in the language you selected.
  2. In the Severity field, select the severity level from the list.
    Important: High severity is reserved for extreme emergencies. On the mobile application, it overrides the device sound settings to emit any sounds associated with the alert template.
  3. In the Title field, enter a one-line summary that communicates the purpose of the alert or alert template. The maximum number of characters is 100. The title is required. However, this title is over-written by the Headline field of an incoming NWS feed. For more information, see Use placeholders for weather alerts.
  4. In the Body field, enter up to 4000 characters of text that communicate why the alert has been sent and provide instructions to the target audience. Note that the content in the Body field is over-written by the Description field of an incoming NWS feed. For more information, see Use placeholders for weather alerts.
  5. In the Type field, select the type that fits with the alert template you are creating.
  6. In the Response Options field, do one of the following:
    • Click Custom Response Options to view a list of preset responses.
    • Click Add Response Option to define one or more responses that alert recipients can send to let you know that they have received the message. If the response involves a call bridge, select the Call Bridge checkbox, then, in the two fields that appear below the checkbox, enter the call bridge number and passcode users need in order to respond. Do not use the Call Bridge # or Pass Code fields to provide information other than a phone number and passcode to the user. Do not include URLs in the Call Bridge # or Pass Code fields. To provide a URL, use the More Info Link field.
      Note: To add a pause between the call bridge number and the passcode, add a comma at the end of the call bridge number. The passcode can include digits (0 - 9) and the [# , *] special characters.
  7. Optionally, in the More Info Link field, enter a URL that opens a web page where users can go to get more details about the alert when it is sent out.
  8. Optionally, if you entered a URL in the previous step, click Test URL to verify that the link works correctly.
  9. Optionally, in the Location section, click Add to access a map where you can select a geographic area for the alert or alert template. This location can also be used to target users by location. For more information, see Target users by location.
  10. Configure the Target Users section.