Washington County public safety agencies would like to encourage the public to sign up to receive emergency alerts about severe weather and other emergencies. Alert Iowa is a statewide emergency notification system the county uses to send alerts to residents. This system enables Washington County officials to communicate emergency information directly to citizens via voice call, text message, email, and social media. The system also has the capability to translate messages into multiple languages. Alert Iowa messages are one of many ways you can and should receive warnings. Redundancy ensures your safety in the event of a failure of any other system. On Friday, March 31, 2023, the Wellman outdoor warning siren failed to function during the severe storms and tornado warning. Multiple means to receive messages is the best practice to keep yourself and your loved ones safe. You can find a link to sign up for the Alert Iowa Notifications with this news story at KCIIradio.com.