Story County has replaced its Story County Iowa Alert system with Alert Iowa, a new emergency notification system with enhanced features. With this switch, residents will have access to new functions and can create one user account for an entire family that includes multiple addresses and phone numbers. Participants may also opt-in to receive weather alerts from the National Weather Service.

To access these features, you must register for a new account. If you've registered before, it's likely that data didn’t transfer completely with the change. To ensure you are still in the system and will be notified during an emergency, you must register.

Three options are available for residents to sign up:

• Online at http://www.storycountyiowa.gov/alerts
• Downloading the Smart911 App to a cell phone or wireless enabled device,
• Opt-in via text messages. The service is a free with no cost to you, although standard data and messaging rates may apply from your carrier.

Once created, an account can choose to provide information about relevant health information that will assist emergency management identify potential special response needs during a disaster or allow for specific emergency messaging. Downloading and enabling the Smart911 App also allows individuals to receive emergency notifications “on the go” anywhere this system is used by local emergency management.

To opt-in via text message, individuals can text the name of the community for which they want alerts, with the letters IA after it, to 672-83.  For example, for emergency messages for Ames, text AmesIA. Once you have opted in via text message you will get a reply with a link to complete your account profile to subscribe to additional notifications from Alert Iowa.

For more information on the Alert Iowa program, and to find other counties that are participating you can visit the Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management website at https://homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/programs/alert-iowa/

Register for ALERT IOWA

This is a NEW system, and residents should assume they are NOT included and please register!

Thank you.