diff --git a/app/models.py b/app/models.py
index c61a5eb..7e04932 100644
--- a/app/models.py
+++ b/app/models.py
@@ -53,6 +53,13 @@ class NotifyRequest(BaseModel):
             description="Enable/disable TTS playback (for debugging)",
         ),
     ]
+    urgent: Annotated[
+        bool,
+        Field(
+            default=False,
+            description="Play at higher volume for critical messages",
+        ),
+    ]
 
     @field_validator("message", mode="before")
     @classmethod
diff --git a/app/queue_manager.py b/app/queue_manager.py
index 83e15e8..43b1b47 100644
--- a/app/queue_manager.py
+++ b/app/queue_manager.py
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@ import time
 from dataclasses import dataclass, field
 from typing import Any
 
+import numpy as np
+
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
 
@@ -27,6 +29,7 @@ class TTSRequest:
     voice: str
     rate: int
     voice_enabled: bool
+    urgent: bool = False
     timestamp: float = field(default_factory=time.time)
     request_id: str | None = None
 
@@ -180,6 +183,11 @@ class TTSQueueManager:
                 self._stats.processed += 1
                 return
 
+            # Apply volume boost for urgent messages
+            if request.urgent:
+                audio_data = np.clip(audio_data * 1.5, -1.0, 1.0).astype(np.float32)
+                logger.debug("Applied urgent volume boost (1.5x)")
+
             # Play audio
             self.audio_player.play(audio_data, self.tts_engine.get_sample_rate())
 
diff --git a/app/routes.py b/app/routes.py
index 5791f22..ed618e9 100644
--- a/app/routes.py
+++ b/app/routes.py
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ async def notify(request: NotifyRequest) -> NotifyResponse:
         voice=voice,
         rate=request.rate,
         voice_enabled=request.voice_enabled and settings.voice_enabled,
+        urgent=request.urgent,
     )
 
     # Enqueue request
diff --git a/tests/test_models.py b/tests/test_models.py
index 9c20cce..40f3ff2 100644
--- a/tests/test_models.py
+++ b/tests/test_models.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ class TestNotifyRequest:
         assert request.voice is None  # None = use server default
         assert request.rate == 170  # default rate
         assert request.voice_enabled is True  # default enabled
+        assert request.urgent is False  # default not urgent
 
     def test_valid_request_with_all_fields(self):
         """
@@ -45,12 +46,14 @@ class TestNotifyRequest:
             voice="en_US-libritts-high",
             rate=200,
             voice_enabled=False,
+            urgent=True,
         )
 
         assert request.message == "Test message"
         assert request.voice == "en_US-libritts-high"
         assert request.rate == 200
         assert request.voice_enabled is False
+        assert request.urgent is True
 
     def test_message_is_required(self):
         """