Alert Iowa improvements coming by July 1

New update aimed at improving county officials’ communication to residents in emergencies

Jun. 16, 2021 10:36 am, Updated: Jun. 16, 2021 3:31 pm

Steve O'Konek, coordinator at the Linn County Emergency Management Agency, describes procedures March 25, 2019, for sounding outdoor warning sirens. (Liz Martin/The Gazette)

Upgrades to the emergency notification system, known as Alert Iowa, are intended to make it easier for residents to receive alerts about severe weather and other emergencies.

Changes to the system will improve Linn County officials’ ability to communicate emergency information directly to residents through phone calls, text messages, emails and social media, a news release said.

Additionally, the system now can translate messages in multiple languages.

“These upgrades will not only make it easier for us to notify our residents when emergencies happen or we need to share important safety information, but will let residents choose the best way for them to receive alerts,” Linn County Emergency Manager Steve O’Konek said.

Signing up for Alert Iowa can be done through the Linn County website portal or by sending a text or downloading the Smart911 app. Residents who are currently signed up to receive alerts will need to sign up again to be part of the new system.