The Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management rolled out a new statewide electronic notification and emergency messaging system at the department’s annual conference in Des Moines.
State Homeland Security Department director, Mark Schouten (Scout-en), says the new “Iowa Alert System” was developed after the state learned 53 counties were paying for a system, 31 had no system, and 15 others were using a free system. Governor Terry Branstad joined Schouten to send out the first message to the county emergency management directors in the audience and their cellphones immediately started beeping.
The Iowa Legislature and Branstad approved 400-thousand dollars to get the system going.
Schouten says 34 counties have signed up for the system, and he says they hope to eventually have all 99 signed up for the new system with the state is providing for free.
Schouten says it’s an investment that helps all Iowans.
