A test of Berrien County’s emergency alert systems was done this past Friday, although some residents have been wondering why they didn’t receive it. The county switched from the emergency sirens to the mobile device-based Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, or IPAWS, system this year. Berrien County Emergency Management Coordinator Rockey Adams tells WSJM News for people to receive the tests of the system, they need to set up their phone to receive them.
“Our best advice would be to get with the phone stores so that they could give advice about the particular phone, make, and model that you have,” Adams said. “Each one, especially with the Android platform, is a little bit different on how to turn those test alerts on.”
Making sure that your device is set up to receive the tests is different from making sure that your device will receive actual emergency alerts. Adams says a real emergency alert will automatically go out to everyone. Getting set up for the tests can be more complicated. Contact the store where you got your phone to sort it all out. You can learn more about the county’s mobile alert system here.
