Black Hawk County will begin utilizing the Wireless Emergency Notification System (WENS) known as “Alert Iowa” on January 9th.
Alert Iowa is a Mass Notification system that allows residents in participating counties to sign up for emergency alerts from local officials. The mass notification system is funded by Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management and saves the county $36,000 annually over the cost of systems used previously.
Frank Magsamen, Chair of the Black Hawk County Emergency Management Commission, suggests all individuals and businesses take the time to visit Black Hawk County's Alert Iowa registration page and add contact information to include cellular phones and other non-traditional phones as well as email and text addresses. To receive urgent messages your contact information must be in the database. In particular, those who should
register include businesses and individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, have changed their phone number recently, those who use a cellular phone exclusively or have VoIP phone service (such as Vonage, magicJack, etc.) as their primary numbers.
Citizens can also register for this service by using the Alert Iowa links found on either the right or left side of nearly every page on the City's website.
Those without Internet access may call (319) 291-4373 Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm for registration options. Required information includes a street address (physical address, no P.O. boxes) for location purposes and a primary phone number. Additional phone numbers, email and text addresses may also be submitted.
More information about the Alert Iowa system is available on the Alert Iowa webpage or by calling Black Hawk County Emergency Management at (319) 291-4373.