These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") govern your use of the Before the Cone SMS hurricane alert service ("Service") operated by Before the Cone ("we," "us," or "our"). By purchasing a subscription or opting in to receive messages, you agree to these Terms.
Before the Cone is an annual SMS subscription service that monitors National Hurricane Center (NHC) public RSS feeds and sends text message alerts when tropical weather activity is identified in the Atlantic basin. Alert types include:
Message frequency varies based on tropical weather activity. During active periods of hurricane season (June 1 – November 30), you may receive multiple messages per week. During inactive periods or off-season, messages will be minimal.
The Service is available to residents of the United States who are 18 years of age or older. By subscribing, you represent that you meet these requirements and that the phone number you provide is your own or that you have authorization to use it for this purpose.
Subscriptions are offered on an annual basis and are billed in full at the time of purchase through Gumroad. Available plans include:
Subscriptions do not auto-renew. You will receive a reminder before your subscription expires. All prices are in US dollars and are subject to change with notice.
Subscriptions are generally non-refundable once hurricane season has begun and alerts have been delivered. If you request a refund within 7 days of purchase and no alerts have been sent to your number, we will issue a full refund at our discretion. Contact us at support@beforethecone.com to request a refund.
You may opt out of SMS messages at any time by replying STOP to any message. After opting out, you will receive a single confirmation message and no further alerts will be sent. Opting out cancels your SMS alerts for the remainder of your subscription term and does not automatically entitle you to a refund.
You may re-subscribe at any time by texting START to our number or by purchasing a new subscription.
Before the Cone is an informational service only. It is not an official emergency alert system and should not be relied upon as your sole source of hurricane information or emergency guidance. We are not affiliated with the National Hurricane Center, NOAA, or any government agency.
Always monitor official sources including nhc.noaa.gov, your local National Weather Service office, and local emergency management authorities during severe weather events.
The Service is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not guarantee that alerts will be delivered without delay, that our interpretation of NHC data will be error-free, or that the Service will be uninterrupted. SMS delivery is subject to carrier availability and network conditions beyond our control.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Before the Cone shall not be liable for any damages arising from your use of or reliance on the Service, including but not limited to property damage, personal injury, or decisions made based on alert content. Our total liability to you for any claim shall not exceed the amount you paid for your current subscription term.
We reserve the right to modify these Terms or the Service at any time. We will notify active subscribers of material changes via SMS. Continued use of the Service after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Florida, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any disputes arising under these Terms shall be resolved in the courts of Orange County, Florida.