Alabama has announced the activation of a $1.2 million statewide notification system that is designed to more quickly alert the public in the event of natural disasters.
This is a new system in the state made possible through state government funds. Governor Kay Ivey made the announcement on Aug. 25.
Under the new notification system, Alabamians will be alerted to impending floods and other disasters through their cell and landline phones as well as through their local radio and TV stations.
Larry Wilkins, chairman of the Alabama State Emergency Communications Committee, told Radio World that alerts are generated through the Alabama Emergency Management Agency using Motorola’s Rave Alert system.
Rave then compiles and distributes the alerts via FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, which allows access to radio stations through their EAS encoders.
Wilkins explained that Alabama has a satellite system for backup distribution of state and local alerts. It relays all IPAWS tests and alerts.
To ensure the warnings successfully make it to the airwaves, Alabama operates a closed-loop monitoring network. The system receives return data from approximately 190 different EAS units across the state, which allows the SECC to confirm rebroadcast status.
“Redundancy is a key item in our EAS system,” Wilkins said.
The action follows the state’s announcement earlier this year that $1.2 million in funding had been set aside to launch the new emergency notification system this year.
Ivey called for the implementation of the new statewide notification system in the wake of the July 2025 Texas flood which claimed the lives of 25 children at Camp Mystic, including eight-year-old Sarah Marsh of Mountain Brook, Ala.
Alabama residents can opt in online or via text message by sending ALalert to 77295 for emergency alerts and notifications or by sending ALinfo to 77295 for general information and updates.
