Schuylkill County's Emergency Management Agency and Local Emergency Planning Committee have launched a new county public emergency alert and community notification system for county and municipal usage.

County commissioners entered into agreement with SwiftReach Networks in July to provide this service. The project has been funded through a Homeland Security grant through the East Central Task Force.The system allows residents to receive alerts from county Emergency Management Agency or participating local municipalities via text, email, landline phone or mobile application.Residents can sign up to subscribe free of charge to the messages they would like to receive, including severe weather warning, severe weather alerts, Interstate 81 road closures, and local road closures.Municipalities can use the system for community notifications such as trash pickup changes, parking bans, and other day-to-day messaging, also at no charge.To register for alerts go to

http://www.scema.org/schuylkill-alert-2.