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New emergency alert system coming to Tama County July 1

Upgrades to Iowa’s emergency notification system, Alert Iowa, are making it easier for residents of Tama County to sign up and receive alerts about severe weather and other emergencies.

Alert Iowa is a statewide emergency notification system the county uses to send alerts to residents.

Alert Iowa has been in place for some time in Tama County, but recent upgrades will require residents to sign up again if they have already been using the service.

Improvements to the system will enable Tama County officials to better communicate emergency information directly to citizens via voice call, text message, email, and social media. The system also now has the capability to translate messages into multiple languages.

“Alert Iowa is a great tool that allows us to push official, real-time alerts to our residents,” Jeremy Cremeans, interim Tama County emergency manager said. “These upgrades will not only make it easier for us to notify residents when emergencies occur or when important safety information needs distributed, but will also let residents choose the way that works best for them to receive alerts.”

Signing up for Alert Iowa is easy and can be done through the county’s web portal, by sending a text, or by downloading the Smart911 app. 

To sign up, first create an account on the Tama County web portal at www.tamacounty.iowa.gov. Then text TAMA followed by IA to 672-83. Lastly, download the Smart911 app from the Apple or Google Play stores.

The target date for Tama County to have the transition to the upgraded system completed is July 1, 2021, though registration for the new alert system is open now. After July 1, the old alert system will no longer be active.

Watch the Tama County Emergency Management Facebook page for updates. For questions on the new alert system, residents are encouraged to contact the Tama County Emergency Management Department at 641-484-6261.

To learn more about Alert Iowa in Tama County, visit www.tamacounty.iowa.gov. Additional information on the system is also available at www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov.