Media Release

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL – Alachua County Emergency Management has recently expanded its emergency warning capabilities with the addition of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). EAS will allow Alachua County officials to quickly deliver warnings via television and radio for rapidly developing, life threatening situations.

EAS is a national public warning system that requires broadcasters to offer a communications capability to the President during a national emergency. Additionally, EAS can be activated by local and state authorities to rapidly disseminate emergency information to the general public. The local EAS may be activated in response to emergency situations such as severe weather, floods, chemical spills, terrorism or any occurrence that poses a danger to life or property.

Emergency Management Director David Donnelly said, “Alachua County utilizes several tools to warn the public. No one mechanism can reach every person, every time. The acquisition of the EAS is a big piece of the puzzle.”

A list of notification systems used by Alachua County can be found at Emergency Management’s website under the ‘Be Informed’ section.

Citizens can sign up for weather warnings and other notifications by visiting the CodeRed website or by calling 352-264-6500, Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m.to 5:30 p.m.