Pottawattamie County Emergency Management reports the CodeRED early weather alert system has been upgraded, to allow residents countywide to receive winter storm warnings. As Midwest residents know, significant winter storms can immobilize a region and paralyze a city, stranding commuters, stopping the flow of supplies and disrupting emergency and medical services.

Doug Reed, Emergency Management Director for Pottawattamie County, says “Residents need to be informed so they can better prepare for devastating storms. With new winter storm warnings available, our community can do just that.”

Winter storm warnings are sent to residents through text and email moments after an alert is issued by the NWS. Notifications are only available to those who have opted in to the CodeRED system. To receive an alert for a winter storm warning, residents should log on to the county website at www.pottcounty.com and enter both an email address and a cell phone number. Many city websites throughout the county also provide a direct link to the enrollment form. For citizens already registered, repeating the process will only update your current account and takes only a few minutes.

Phone calls are not made for winter storm warnings because many of them are extended during the early morning hours. We want the community to be informed but not annoyed with late night phone calls. Residents may also select to receive severe thunderstorm, flash flood and tornado warnings through telephone calls to their homes and businesses, email and text messages.
All residents are encouraged to subscribe to the countywide CodeRED system. Having the option to receive winter storm warnings is an added bonus for the residents that live here and will provide them extra time to prepare if a storm were to impact our area.

A Mills County man died in a weather-related crash early Friday morning, in Pottawattamie County. According to the Iowa State Patrol, 56-year old Duane Allen, of Glenwood, died when the 2006 Chevy Colorado pickup he was driving went out of control, entered the median and struck an unoccupied  2009 Jeep Compass that was stuck in the median as a result of Thursday’s blizzard, and had not been towed. The Patrol says Allen was not wearing a seat belt. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The accident happened at around 5:20-a.m. on Interstate 80 eastbound, about 6-miles southwest of Underwood.

(12-p.m. News)

Two Atlantic residents were arrested Thursday for Driving While Revoked. 44-year old David Jordan and 32-year old Nicole Anaya were taken into custody following separate traffic stops. Anaya faces an additional charge of Driving While Barred. Both drivers were booked into the Cass County Jail and held, pending an initial court appearance.

(Update at 9:45-a.m.: No injuries reported)

Crews from Anita Fire and Rescue, Wiota 1st Responders and Medivac Ambulance were called t the scene of a rollover accident this morning, on Interstate 80 in Cass County. Dispatch reports indicate the accident happened near the Anita Exit off I-80 westbound (70-mile marker), at around 9:35-a.m. Later dispatch reports indicated no injuries were reported.

No other details are currently available.

ROCHESTER, Minn. (AP) – The Minnesota State Patrol says the southbound lanes of Interstate 35 between Albert Lea and the Iowa border have reopened. That section of the interstate had been closed since Thursday about 2 p.m. because of multiple accidents and the request of the Iowa Department of Transportation. In Iowa, I-35 from the Minnesota border to Ames has also reopened. The Department of Transportation says driving conditions in southeastern Minnesota are fair.