Local area emergency

A local area emergency (SAME code: LAE) is an advisory that is issued by local authorities through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) in the United States to notify the public of an event that does not pose a significant threat to public safety and/or property by itself, but could escalate, contribute to other more serious events, or disrupt critical public safety services. Instructions, other than public protective actions, may be provided. Examples include a disruption in water, electric, or natural gas service, road closures due to excessive snowfall, or a potential terrorist threat where the public is asked to remain alert. The alert has a lower priority than a civil emergency message (CEM), but it has a specific location similar to a civil danger warning.

2013 Great Falls, Montana hijacking

On 11 February 2013, CBS affiliate station KRTV was hacked into, displaying a false local area emergency message for "bodies of the dead rising from their graves" and "attacking the living." The alert was deemed a hoax by local authorities. The audio of the emergency alert was taken from a 2008 Youtube video.

"Civil authorities in your area have reported that the bodies of the dead are rising from their graves and attacking the living. Follow the messages on-screen that will be updated as information becomes available. Do not attempt to approach or apprehend these bodies, as they are considered extremely dangerous. I repeat: civil authorities in your area have reported that the bodies of the dead are rising from their graves and attacking the living. Follow the messages on-screen that will be updated as information becomes available. Do not attempt to approach or apprehend these bodies, as they are considered extremely dangerous. This warning applies to all areas receiving this broadcast. Tune into 920 AM to get updated information in the event that you are separated from your television or if electrical service is interrupted. Civil authorities in your area have reported that the bodies of the dead are rising from their graves and attacking the living. Follow the messages on-screen that will be updated as information becomes available. This station will now cease transmission, so please use your battery powered radio and tune into 920 AM for further information."

Example

On 20 February 2015, several roads across the state of Alabama became impassable due to heavy snowfall. County agencies across the state issued a message that discouraged travel due to the severity of the winter storm.

385 
WOUS44 KHUN 202202
LAEHUN
ALC033-049-071-083-089-095-103-210200-

URGENT - IMMEDIATE BROADCAST REQUESTED
LOCAL AREA EMERGENCY
MULTIPLE NORTH ALABAMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES
RELAYED BY NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE HUNTSVILLE AL
401 PM CST FRI FEB 20 2015

...LOCAL AREA EMERGENCY FOR COLBERT...DEKALB...JACKSON...LIMESTONE...
MADISON...MARSHALL...AND MORGAN COUNTIES...

THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE IS TRANSMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF THE SEVERAL 
COUNTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCIES ACROSS NORTH ALABAMA.

MANY IF NOT ALL ROADS ACROSS THE FOLLOWING NORTH ALABAMA COUNTIES ARE
BECOMING TREACHEROUS AND IMPASSABLE DUE TO SNOW AND SLEET. COLBERT...
MORGAN...MADISON...MARSHALL...DEKALB AND JACKSON COUNTIES ARE
DISCOURAGING ANY TRAVEL UNLESS IT IS AN EMERGENCY.

$$

On 13 November 2025, an brief alert was issued for a prison escape in St. Mary Parish, Louisiana.

456 
WOUS44 KLCH 130630
LAELCH
LAC101-130730-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Local Area Emergency
LA St. Mary Parish Government
Relayed by National Weather Service Lake Charles LA
1230 AM CST Thu Nov 13 2025

...BERWICK ESCAPE...

The following message is transmitted at the request of St. Mary
Parish Government.

ESCAPE FROM BERWICK JAIL.

REPORT TO BERWICK POLICE.

$$

17630154170001391662162

On 22 April 2026, a gas leak in Kanawha County, West Virginia, prompted a shelter-in-place order.

WVC039-221900-

BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED
Local Area Emergency
WV Kanawha County
Relayed by National Weather Service Charleston WV
1229 PM EDT Wed Apr 22 2026

The following message is transmitted at the request of the WV
Kanawha County.

A shelter in place remains in effect within 1 mile of the
Catalyst Refiners in Institute, including West Virginia State
University. This does not include within the St. Albans city
limits. Please tune into local news and radio for updates.

$

References

• http://www.srh.noaa.gov/bro/?n=mapcolors
• http://www.srh.noaa.gov/lub/?n=nonweathercemdescriptions
• https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna50783269
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F6EdnfHCVEo

 This article incorporates public domain material from Non-weather Related Emergency Message Description Guidelines (PDF). United States government.