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Howard County weather alert system uses calls, texts to warn residents about severe weather

Posted at 2:52 AM, Mar 25, 2017
and last updated 2017-03-25 02:54:40-04

KOKOMO, Ind. -- While the state of Indiana tested its tornado sirens on Tuesday, Howard County, also tested its mass alert system -- Everbridge.

Everbridge is a digital alert system that sends out calls and text messages to warn people about severe weather.

It’s free for residents and can be customized to give you the information you want. Except for Tornado warnings, which will always go through.  

“There is no way that we can reach the whole county,” said Wyman. “We can easily reach more people with this system than we can with sirens.”

Howard County residents are more aware than most about how destructive weather can be. Last August, several tornadoes touched down in the county, destroying multiple businesses and houses.

INTERACTIVE MAP | The 8 tornadoes in central Indiana

The county only has about 10 actual tornado sirens, so most people received those alerts on their phones.  

Howard County Commissioner Paul Wyman said the system has already paid for itself.

"People pay more attention to the weather when it's coming in and pay more attention to the alerts that are coming in," Gary Bates, Howard County's 911 communications director, said. "They take it more seriously.”

Not all Indiana counties offer Evergreen, yet, but there are many other digital ways options when it comes to receiving custom warnings on your phone – including Storm Shield – which is available in any app store. 

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