Adams County officials have announced a new emergency notification system that is available to the public free of charge. This system uses a text based notification platform called NIXLE that, when activated by public safety authorities will send a text message and/or email to registered users. The purpose of this system is to give local officials the ability to rapidly send emergency alert messages to the public.

NIXLE will be used for emergencies such as evacuations, emergency road closures, information following disasters, dangerous suspect information, lost or missing persons, emergent health related incidents or other life threatening emergency situation that the public needs to be aware of or to take protective action from.

Conventional methods of emergency alerting including the National Emergency Alert System which alerts the public over television and AM/FM radio broadcast signals and NOAA weather alert radios are not replaced by the system. NIXLE will augment these systems for local emergency situations, but will not send out routine weather watches and warnings that are issued by the National Weather Service.

When local outdoor weather sirens are activated an emergency message will be sent giving those individuals that are indoors notification that siren systems have been activated. NIXLE emergency notification gives individuals a method to receive local emergency alerts on their cell phones so they are informed whenever and wherever they are.

To receive NIXLE messages individuals must register. There is no charge to sign up or receive NIXLE messages, but message rates may apply from your cell phone provider. The NIXLE system is completely anonymous even to local response agencies. The system does not allow email addresses or phone numbers to be viewed so privacy will be maintained and numbers and addresses cannot be sold or provide to other entities.

Individuals can register by sending the key word “ADAMSCOUNTY” to 888777, or visit www.co.adams.il.us/nixle and sign-up online.  Interested individuals with any questions can contact the Adams County Emergency Management Agency at 217-277-2005.

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