New Yorkers can now sign up for neighborhood-specific emergency alerts via text message without downloading an app or creating an online account, city officials announced on Wednesday.
The Notify NYC program, launched as a pilot in December 2007 and expanded citywide in 2009, now allows residents to receive hyperlocal emergency alerts by simply texting “NOTIFYNYC” to 692-692. When prompted, users can enter their zip code to receive SMS alerts tailored to their neighborhood, according to a press release.
The service, operated by New York City Emergency Management (NYCEM), has long been the city’s primary tool for providing real-time emergency information to more than 1.2 million subscribers. Previously, signing up required using a mobile app or visiting a website.
This latest upgrade, part of a broader push to make emergency communication more accessible, includes zip code–specific alerts powered by the Nixle SMS platform. Users can receive updates on transit delays, power outages, water advisories, school closures, emergency activity, and more. Additional zip codes including for workplaces or schools can be added by texting each one to the same number.
In the last financial year, Notify NYC issued 2,750 messages, up from 2,215 in 2023 with an average alert delivery time of just six minutes after an incident begins.
NYCEM Commissioner Iscol said the initiative demonstrated New York City's commitment to keeping residents informed on relevant alerts.
Mayor Eric Adams said the updated alerts would ensure that New Yorkers are able to respond adequately to emergencies in their neighbhorhoods.
"We are committed to making New York City safer every day, but we cannot do that without providing New Yorkers with the most effective and accessible information when an emergency occurs," said Mayor Eric Adams in a statement.
"By upgrading Notify NYC to more easily push out citywide alerts and now sending zip code-specific alerts, we’re ensuring residents receive both broad and localized updates, all through one simple text subscription, making it easier than ever to stay informed."
