This guide covers how things work for Members — from receiving texts to taking action.
What number will text messages come from?
All alerts will be sent from 818-643-3991. Save this number to avoid missing any alerts.
What is a Swarm Alert?
You’ll receive a swarm alert when:
- A new swarm is reported
- You are within range
- You’re available according to your settings
- The elevation is within your allowed threshold
Each alert includes a 5-digit claim code.
Who receives an alert?
The system identifies eligible Members — people whose range, elevation, and availability match the swarm. Alerts are then sent to those Members simultaneously.
How do I claim a swarm?
Reply to the alert with the exact claim code (e.g. 01134).
If it’s still available, the swarm will be assigned to you. You’ll receive a message like:
Congratulations! SWARM INFO Name: Alice Phone: 503-123-4567 Address: 123 Honeybee Ln, Portland, OR Log in at https://member.swarmreport.org if you need to "Un-claim" the swarm or "Mark as Bad".
What happens if I text something else?
Only two types of messages are recognized by 818-643-3991:
- Valid claim codes (e.g. 01134)
- Twilio commands like START or STOP
Any other message will be ignored.
How do I control when I get alerts?
- Set your availability schedule (custom day/time windows per week)
- Configure your range in miles to limit alerts to local swarms
- Set a maximum elevation for alerts
- Toggle Do Not Disturb to temporarily stop alerts
What happens if I don’t claim a swarm?
Members receive alerts in staggered batches based on recent claim activity. If you’ve recently claimed a swarm, you’ll receive future alerts later than others:
| Recent Claims | Delay Before Receiving Alert |
|---|---|
| 0 | Immediate |
| 1 | 10 minutes |
| 2 | 20 minutes |
| 3 | 30 minutes |
| 4 | 40 minutes |
| 5 | 50 minutes |
| 6+ | 60 minutes |
How is my location used?
Your address is turned into a latitude/longitude point and used to determine if you are in range for a reported swarm. Your exact location is never shared with others.
How do I give feedback?
You can leave feedback in two ways:
- Use the Feedback button found on most pages of the site
- Email us at support@swarmreport.org
How do I leave an association?
Go to your profile and click the red trash icon next to the association. This removes you immediately and stops all alerts from that group.
What does Do Not Disturb do?
It silences all alerts until you turn it off. Ideal for vacations, sick days, or when you’re unavailable.