Best emergency & safety alert apps for Android
Emergency and safety alert apps push crime reports, rocket sirens, earthquake and volcano warnings and other bulletins, often with a map and a time stamp.
24 apps ranked · How we rank
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A focused, free way to receive Mexico's official SASMEX earthquake warning wherever you are, provided you are inside its coverage area.
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Number 2: Police Scanner - Live Radio
Police Scanner, Scanner Live Radio App
4.8 out of 5 (144.6K) 10M+ installs
A broad, well-organized live scanner app for anyone who wants direct public safety audio, with ads and a location requirement to accept.
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A free, ad-free way to follow crime and safety reports from neighbors and local law enforcement in your area.
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A focused, free way to follow live dispatch activity near you, best for readers who want early, unfiltered local awareness.
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A free, ad-free wildfire and flood tracker with professional vetting behind it, best for people in fire- or flood-prone areas.
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A free, location-based safety feed that is most useful in its best-supported cities, with optional paid tiers for detail and live agents.
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A free, ad-supported local news app that suits anyone who wants neighborhood headlines, weather alerts and traffic in one place.
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A free, focused safety app for CPR-trained responders and residents in covered communities.
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A free, ad-supported way to track earthquakes worldwide and get alerts shortly after they are recorded.
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A free, volunteer-built alert relay that suits anyone in Israel wanting an extra warning channel alongside official systems.
More of the best emergency & safety alert apps
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11
FEMA
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
4.4
1M+
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12
Tzofar - Red Alert | צופר
RedAlert
4.5
1M+
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13
LocalAll - Everything Local
Scoopz LLC
4.8
100K+
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14
Offender Locator
Offender Locator Inc.
4.6
100K+
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15
DeFlock.me
TechBS
4.5
100K+
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16
Food Recalls & Alerts
SmartAddress, Inc.
4.2
50K+
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17
My Earthquake Alerts Pro
JRustonApps B.V.
4.8
50K+
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18
Emergency: Severe Weather App
American Red Cross
4.5
500K+
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19
CRIMEWATCH
CRIMEWATCH Technologies
3.4
100K+
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20
OVSICORI-UNA Alerta Terremotos
Billy Burgoa Rosso
4.2
100K+
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21
MyShake Earthquake Alerts
UC Berkeley Seismological Laboratory
3.8
1M+
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22
Police Scanner Pro - App
Fucidin
3.7
1K+
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23
Local Matters: Where You Live
LifeAgents
4.9
10K+
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24
InTown
LifeAgents
4.7
10K+
About emergency & safety alert apps
They close the gap between an event and hearing about it, without checking a news site, so you can avoid an area, take cover or simply stay informed. They suit people who live in or travel through areas with active hazards, from neighborhoods with frequent crime to regions with seismic or volcanic activity. The biggest difference is the source: some relay official emergency feeds, others rely on reports from users, and a few combine both. That affects how fast and reliable the warnings are and how much of the world they cover. Some focus on one country or city; others work across borders.
What to look for
- Check where the alerts originate: official emergency feeds are usually more reliable than user-submitted reports, which can be faster but unverified.
- Confirm the coverage area includes your city or region, since many apps only work in specific countries or districts.
- Look at how the app handles battery and background activity, because constant location checks for nearby alerts can drain a phone quickly.
- See whether the app charges a subscription or shows ads, and what the free version leaves out.
- Review the privacy policy for location data, since these apps often need continuous access to your position.
How we rank
Apps are ranked by their Google Play rating (weighted by how many people rated them), their number of installs, how recently they were updated and how closely they fit the category. Only apps we've reviewed are included.