‘Lincoln County Alerts’: LCEM launches new public emergency alert system

LINCOLN COUNTY – Lincoln County Emergency Management (LCEM) has launched a new public alert and warning system.

A release from LCEM said Lincoln County Alerts is a free service designed to provide county residents and visitors with timely emergency information from local public safety officials.

The system, powered by CodeRED by Crisis24, went live today (Friday, June 19).

Lincoln County Alerts may be used to share information about severe weather, flooding, dam incidents, evacuation notices, shelter-in-place instructions, missing vulnerable persons, active shooter situations, public health alerts, road closures and large event safety alerts, according to LCEM.

“When seconds matter, people need information from trusted local public safety officials,” said Tyler Verhasselt, LCEM Director. “Lincoln County Alerts gives residents and visitors a direct way to receive emergency information from the people responsible for protecting this community. In a large rural county, redundancy matters. This system helps us reach people faster, more clearly and through more than one channel.”

LCEM said the Lincoln County Information Technology Department, led by Director Travis Spoehr, played an instrumental role in the technical design and program development of Lincoln County Alerts. The Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) also collaborated and coordinated with LCEM on program implementation.

“Preparedness starts at home, and signing up for Lincoln County Alerts is one of the simplest steps a person can take to help protect the people they care about,” Verhasselt stated. “When residents enroll, they can add important locations beyond their own home, including an older parent’s address, a child care location and/or a child’s school.”

Verhasselt noted that emergencies do not always happen when families are together.

“This system helps people stay connected to trusted local emergency information for the places and people that matter most,” he said.

“Lincoln County Alerts is a one-way public alert and warning system used to notify the public of emergencies, crises and disasters,” LCEM stated. “The public is reminded to call 911 in an emergency.”

County residents and visitors may enroll in Lincoln County Alerts by visiting www.accountportal.onsolve.net/lincolncowi or by texting LINCOLN to 36475.