diff --git a/modules/locationdata.py b/modules/locationdata.py
index 18c0bc7..ba4389f 100644
--- a/modules/locationdata.py
+++ b/modules/locationdata.py
@@ -325,11 +325,15 @@ def abbreviate_weather(row):
                     
     return line
 
-def getWeatherAlerts(lat=0, lon=0):
+def getWeatherAlerts(lat=0, lon=0, useDefaultLatLon=False):
     # get weather alerts from NOAA limited to ALERT_COUNT with the total number of alerts found
     alerts = ""
-    if float(lat) == 0 and float(lon) == 0:
+    if float(lat) == 0 and float(lon) == 0 and not useDefaultLatLon:
         return NO_DATA_NOGPS
+    else:
+        if useDefaultLatLon:
+            lat = latitudeValue
+            lon = longitudeValue
 
     alert_url = "https://api.weather.gov/alerts/active.atom?point=" + str(lat) + "," + str(lon)
     #alert_url = "https://api.weather.gov/alerts/active.atom?area=WA"
@@ -373,7 +377,7 @@ wxAlertCache = ""
 def alertBrodcast():
     # get the latest weather alerts and broadcast them if there are any
     global wxAlertCache
-    currentAlert = getWeatherAlerts()
+    currentAlert = getWeatherAlerts(latitudeValue, longitudeValue)
     
     if currentAlert[0] == ERROR_FETCHING_DATA or currentAlert == NO_DATA_NOGPS or currentAlert == NO_ALERTS:
         wxAlertCache = ""