New Yorkers to get text alerts about poor air quality, smoke. How it'll work

Sarah Taddeo, New York State Team
Updated ·2 min read

New York is taking a new approach to spreading the word about poor air quality, which has become a recurring issue across the state as Canadian wildfires continue to burn.

New York will employ its emergency text alert system to warn New Yorkers when air quality in their area reaches an air quality index of 200 or greater, which signals the air quality is at a “very unhealthy” level.

“I encourage all New Yorkers to stay informed about the latest updates and take the necessary precautions to protect yourselves and your loved ones,” Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday in a news release.

Who will get emergency air quality alerts in NY?

The text alerts will be regionally focused, going to individual counties exceeding 200 on the Air Quality Index for more than an hour.

So if air quality spikes above 200 in Rochester (Monroe County) but not Syracuse (Onondaga County,) only Monroe County residents will get the alert.

Alerts will only be issued in the same county once during a 24-hour period.

Wildfire and smoke map: Track latest wildfires and stay informed on smoke conditions

How have these NY alerts been used in the past?

The emergency alert system, managed by the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, is used by authorized local, state and federal public safety agencies to provide automated emergency messages via cell phones.

It’s used for things like AMBER Alerts and National Weather Service notifications during extreme weather events.

Smog from the wildfires in Canada have been making their way across the upper United States. The smog obscures some of the Rochester skyline that is normally clearly scene at Cobb Hills Park.
Smog from the wildfires in Canada have been making their way across the upper United States. The smog obscures some of the Rochester skyline that is normally clearly scene at Cobb Hills Park.

Who will get the air quality alerts in NY?

Everyone who has a cell phone in affected New York counties will receive emergency alerts.

A man runs in front of the sun rising over the lower Manhattan skyline in Jersey City, N.J., June 8, 2023.
A man runs in front of the sun rising over the lower Manhattan skyline in Jersey City, N.J., June 8, 2023.

What should I know about the NY air quality forecast?

Officials released the Thursday forecast for air quality in New York late Wednesday.

Western and Central New York, Eastern Lake Ontario and the Adirondacks are expected to see “unhealthy” air quality levels on Thursday, from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m.

The remainder of the state will experience air quality that is “unhealthy for sensitive groups” on Thursday.

Officials expect Thursday’s Air Quality Index to exceed 100.

This article originally appeared on New York State Team: New Yorkers to get text alerts about bad air quality. How it'll work