LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – Lubbock County joined a statewide drill Thursday to test its public warning systems ahead of severe weather season.
Clinton Thetford, the county’s emergency management coordinator, said the drill helps identify any issues and ensures information goes out efficiently.
“The whole idea behind mass notification systems is the informed public will hopefully respond correctly during times of emergency and follow instructions to keep them and their families safe from whatever the immediate threat is,” Thetford said.
System alerts cover multiple emergencies
The alerts are designed to warn residents about a wide range of threats, not just one type of emergency.
“The ones they might receive through our system would be severe weather, tornado warnings, severe thunderstorm warnings, winter weather warnings, red flag warning days, those kinds of things,” Thetford said.
Stay aware and sign up for alerts
Thetford said now is the time to make sure residents are prepared by signing up to receive emergency alerts.
“Just about to start into our severe weather season, that’s why it could be critical,” Thetford said. “We are subject — last year we had that significant tornado out west of Reese. If that could have come into Lubbock or other unincorporated parts of the county where there are subdivisions, it could have been crucial to get that information quickly to take shelter.”
Thetford said timely information can help residents make informed decisions during emergencies.
“If you are not informed on what the situation is, you can’t make well-informed decisions on what’s best to protect you and your families,” Thetford said. “If you get accurate, timely information through these mass notification systems, then you can make good judgments on how to watch and respond when an incident is occurring.”
How to sign up
Signing up is to receive alerts is free and easy to do. To sign up to receive alerts in your county, click here.
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