Jackson County has a new emergency alert system. Here’s how residents can sign up

Kansas City has been experiencing severe weather over the past few weeks, and with another wave of thunderstorms approaching the Kansas City area on Thursday, severe weather alert services are working around the clock to keep residents informed.

The services have been in operation in Kansas City and Johnson County for at least two years, and now residents in other parts of Jackson County can sign up for a new system to receive severe weather alerts directly to their phones.

The Central Jackson County Emergency Management Agency has launched its emergency notification service through Everbridge, a community information services app. The service serves Blue Springs, Grain Valley and Lake Tapawingo. The agency switched to Everbridge two months ago, said Chip Portz, chief of community risk reduction for the Central Jackson County Fire Protection District.

Residents can sign up to receive notifications using the online form. You must enter your email address or phone number to sign up. You can then decide whether you want to receive notifications to one or both types of contacts.

When you enter your phone number, you can choose whether you want notifications to be sent as a text message or a call.

You can also sign up to receive alerts by downloading the Everbridge app to your Apple or Android device. The system allows you to customize the app so you only receive the alerts you need most, such as severe weather alerts.

What other weather alert services can I sign up for?

Kansas City residents can subscribe to AlertKC, also operated by Everbridge. They can sign up to receive alerts using the online form.

Only approved city messages are sent through Everbridge’s system, the city’s website says.

Once you sign up and register to receive Kansas City alerts, the app can also call you during severe weather events such as blizzards or thunderstorms.

These are the types of notifications you can receive after signing up:

If you’re in Johnson County, you can also receive the same alerts through NotifyJoCo. You can register online or download the Everbridge app and set your alerts to only receive what you want. If you have trouble registering for NotifyJoCo, call 913-826-5555.

As in Kansas City, only approved messages pass through NotifyJoCo’s system.

If you live in other parts of the metropolitan area, you can get the latest updates through the National Weather Service. Check the current warnings for the area online.

A live data feed from the National Weather Service with official weather warnings, watches, and advisories. Tap warning areas for more details. Sources: NOAA, National Weather Service, NOAA GeoPlatform, and Esri.

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Steve Wilson [email protected]