WPVM launched a new emergency‑preparedness page with SMS messaging and Signal alert sign‑up, born out of Hurricane Helene, to help listeners in Western North Carolina stay informed when power, internet, and cell service fail—and to remind them that local radio remains their lifeline. Emergency Alert texts for when power or cell outages go dark, announcements include severe weather, outages, active shooters, cyberattacks, and urgent safety info only. Never spam, never sold, never a cost to you.
Don’t Wait for the Storm to Prepare.
When Hurricane Helene hit, phones and power went out for weeks. Don’t get caught off guard again. Sign up for Radio Asheville Emergency Alerts and get flash flood warnings, evacuation orders, and shelter info sent straight to your phone by text or Signal. Takes 30 seconds. Sign up now for sms alerts, or sign up for Signal alerts below.
Here’s how it works:
• Analog FM Radio (103.7 FM): Your primary lifeline. When power and cell service fail, a simple battery, solar, or hand-crank radio delivers real-time emergency updates, official briefings, and critical local information.
• Emergency Satellite Messaging: Even when cell towers are down, newer iPhones (14+) and select Android devices can receive emergency text messages via satellite. Radio Asheville will send short, urgent alerts through this backup channel when traditional SMS fails—giving you flash flood warnings, evacuation orders, and shelter locations when you need them most.
• Signal App Alerts: For those with the Signal app installed before disaster strikes, we’ll push encrypted emergency notifications that can get through even on weak or damaged networks.
• HAM Radio Partnership: Radio Asheville works directly with local amateur (HAM) radio operators who provide real-time field reports when all other communications are down. During Helene, the HAM community delivered critical updates about road closures, water distribution sites, wellness checks in isolated areas, and safe routes—information that saved lives.
This isn’t just about convenience—it’s about survival. When the next storm hits, you need multiple ways to get information. Sign up for our emergency alerts, keep an emergency radio in your home, and install Signal before you need it.
Because when power, cell service, and the internet all fail at once, Radio Asheville is your lifeline.
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For those who prefer Signal, sign up using the QR code below.
What Helene Taught Us
When Hurricane Helene hit, the disaster came on fast. As we took in the damage, confusion and fear spread everywhere. It got worse as we lost the things we depend on every day: power, water, and cell service.
Then people stepped up. Neighbors brought drinking water to people stuck in their homes. They hauled river water so families could flush toilets. They cooked food on outdoor grills before it spoiled and shared it with anyone who needed it. Pack mule teams climbed mountainsides around landslides to reach people who were cut off. Helicopter crews found people to rescue by spotting SOS signals flashed from the lights on emergency radios. That person-to-person help was the silver lining of the storm.
Then came the rumors, many of them spread for political reasons. Rumors spread accusing federal agents of “telling residents their land had been seized, and they were about to bulldoze Chimney Rock.” So they could take the lithium underground. Others claimed FEMA or other agencies were there to seize property, not to help. This was deliberate disinformation aimed at a region already devastated. It spread fear when people needed the truth most, and it made it harder for help to reach them.
Disasters bring out the best and the worst in people. Two years later, we are still coming out of the shock, and recovery will take years.
When all else fails, the radio is still around. Portable radios are available that can be charged by solar, handcrank, or battery. They can also be used to charge your phone, send SOS messages, and send weather alerts via NOAA. You can also use your car radio to pick up our signal. Move to higher ground if you are near water, but also be aware of the potential for landslides.
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