Short answer. In Costa Rica, the CNE declares alerts for a region or the whole country on four colour-coded levels: green (informative), yellow (preparation), orange (mobilisation, with preventive evacuation) and red (response, evacuation) 1. Official sources show no national siren network and no government cell-broadcast system. Local tsunami sirens cover part of the Pacific coast 3, and a public-university app sends tsunami-threat notifications 4.
What do the CNE alert colours mean?
The CNE defines an alert as "un estado o condición excepcional declarado por la CNE, con la intención de desarrollar acciones operativas tendientes a garantizar la efectividad en la respuesta" (an exceptional state declared by the CNE, to set in motion operational actions that make the response effective) 1.
| Level | Meaning | Main actions 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Verde (green) | Informative: signs of a hazard that could escalate | Monitor, inform |
| Amarilla (yellow) | Preparation: the threatening phenomenon is developing toward an event | Monitor, activate institutions, evaluate sites, mobilise resources, inform the population |
| Naranja (orange) | Mobilisation or containment: impact is certain or conditions are exceptional | Preventive evacuation |
| Roja (red) | Response: an event with consequences in a specific geographic area | Evacuation, damage assessment, response and rehabilitation |
An alert can apply to one region or to the whole country 1. At orange, evacuation becomes preventive; at red, it is part of the response. Know in advance where you would go: see public shelters and the kit.
Are there sirens in Costa Rica?
No national public siren network was found in CNE sources. Local tsunami sirens were put into service in September 2020 in Jacó, Quepos, Tivives and Esterillos Oeste, on the Pacific coast. According to the press report, they were donated by the US government under a work plan with the CNE and SINAMOT 3. The current total number of sirens is not published. For what to do when one sounds, see /guides/tsunami.
Will I get an alert on my phone?
No government cell-broadcast or SMS alert system was found in CNE, 9-1-1 or other official sources. Two other channels exist:
- UNA Costa Segura, an app from SINAMOT at the Universidad Nacional, built with CNE support, sends notifications of tsunami threats 4.
- Google's Android Earthquake Alerts, a private system, was reported enabled in Costa Rica on 15 October 2026 5. The CNE says this is not an official source; treat it as a supplement, not as a CNE alert.
OVSICORI-UNA, also at the Universidad Nacional, pushes earthquake alerts through an app. No CNE-branded alert app was found: the Google Play listing linked from the archived CNE site returns an error. The 9-1-1 system has its own app, but it is for requesting help, not for receiving alerts.
For earthquake actions, see /guides/earthquake-preparedness. For a radio that works without mobile networks, see /guides/emergency-radio.
What should my family know about warnings?
The CNE family plan tells parents to teach children the warning systems at home, such as alarms and smoke detectors 2. Agree in your family plan on who checks alerts and where everyone meets. For fire alarms at home, see /guides/home-fire-escape-plan.
Frequently asked questions
Who declares an emergency alert in Costa Rica?
The CNE. It declares alert levels for a region or for the whole country 1.
What does an orange alert mean in Costa Rica?
Mobilisation or containment: impact is certain or conditions are exceptional, and preventive evacuation is one of the actions 1.
Does Costa Rica have a cell-broadcast alert system?
No government cell-broadcast or SMS alert system was found in official sources. The UNA Costa Segura app sends tsunami-threat notifications 4.
Is the Android earthquake alert official?
No. It is a private Google system, reported enabled in Costa Rica on 15 October 2026; the CNE says it is not an official source 5.
Sources
- Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE) — Alertas — https://www.cne.go.cr/preparativos_respuestas/alertas.aspx (accessed 2026-10-20; level graphics read via Web Archive capture of 19 Feb 2024)
- Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE) — Guía para la Elaboración del Plan Familiar de Gestión del Riesgo (Plan Familiar de Gestión de Riesgo) — https://moravia.go.cr/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/plan-familiar-17-19-CM.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20; CNE 2019 edition hosted by the Municipality of Moravia)
- El Observador (CR) — Cuatro comunidades del Pacífico estrenan alarmas para tsunamis — https://observador.cr/video-cuatro-comunidades-del-pacifico-estrenan-alarmas-para-tsunamis/ (accessed 2026-10-20; press report, 19 Sept. 2020)
- El Observador (CR) — UNA lanza app que alertará de amenaza por tsunamis para Costa Rica — https://observador.cr/una-lanza-app-que-alertara-de-amenaza-por-tsunamis-para-costa-rica/ (accessed 2026-10-20; press report, 4 Nov. 2021)
- Delfino.cr — Google activa en Costa Rica su sistema de alerta de terremotos para teléfonos Android — https://delfino.cr/2026/10/google-activa-en-costa-rica-su-sistema-de-alerta-de-terremotos-para-telefonos-android (accessed 2026-10-20; press report, Oct. 2026)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Costa Rica, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE) · Alertas checked 2026-10-20
- Comisión Nacional de Prevención de Riesgos y Atención de Emergencias (CNE) · Guía para la Elaboración del Plan Familiar de Gestión del Riesgo (Plan Familiar de Gestión de Riesgo) checked 2026-10-20
- El Observador (CR) · Cuatro comunidades del Pacífico estrenan alarmas para tsunamis checked 2026-10-20
- El Observador (CR) · UNA lanza app que alertará de amenaza por tsunamis para Costa Rica checked 2026-10-20
- Delfino.cr · Google activa en Costa Rica su sistema de alerta de terremotos para teléfonos Android checked 2026-10-20