You can’t sign-up just yet, but soon, you’ll be able to receive Emergency Notification messages about storms, Amber Alerts, Boil Orders and more, in Cass County. Cass County Emergency Management Coordinator Mike Kennon, Wednesday (Today), told the Board of Supervisors the County has agreed to become part of the state-wide “Alert Iowa” system. The system is expected to become active in Cass County sometime within the next month.

Cass County Emergency Mgmt. Coordinator Mike Kennon talks about Alert IA.

The system can be used by state and local authorities to quickly disseminate emergency information to residents in counties that utilize the system. Persons with landlines are already on a data base for notification, but when the online registration form is active, persons with cell phones can register those numbers and their landline for notifications.

The system is available, free of charge, to all counties. Approximately three out of every four Iowa counties have now signed up to use the Alert Iowa system. In southwest Iowa, there are only six counties (Audubon, Adams, Fremont, Page, Taylor and Union), who have not jumped on the Alert Iowa bandwagon. Kennon says before it can be rolled out in Cass County, he, along with Sheriff Darby McLaren and 9-1-1 Coordinator Rob Koppert need to go through necessary training to prepare for the system’s activation.

When active in Cass County, Alert Iowa will allow citizens to sign up for the types of alerts they would like to receive. Messages can be issued via landline or wireless phone, text messaging, email, FAX, TDD/TYY, and social media. Messages may contain photo, video and audio attachments to help subscribers better understand the situation at hand, or where to find additional information. And, you can choose which city or cities you want to receive notifications for.

(Sample) Online registration form for Cass County/Alert IA,

The media will release more information on the system when the roll-out date grows closer. For more, general information, go to http://homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/about_HSEMD/alert_iowa.html