Emergency alerts can now be sent silently, without sound or vibration

The US communications regulator now allows emergency alerts to be sent without making a sound or vibrating. This means local authorities can send warnings that only appear on a phone screen, without interrupting people.

Every emergency alert in the US has always triggered a loud sound and vibration, making it impossible to send a subtle warning. This change means authorities can now send alerts that are less disruptive, like a silent notification about a missing child or a local hazard. It also means that a phone marketed as 'emergency alert capable' must now support all alert features, including these new silent ones.