WACO, Texas (KXXV) \u2014 Phones could light up and sirens may sound across Central Texas this morning as part of a statewide drill from the Texas Division of Emergency Management.<\/p>\n
State officials are asking local agencies across Texas to test their alert systems, ranging from phone notifications to outdoor sirens.<\/p>\n
Watch Full Story Here: <\/p>\n
Statewide emergency alert system test happening across Central Texas today<\/p>\n
The goal is to see how quickly communities can warn residents in an emergency, how many people can be reached, and where there might still be gaps in communication.<\/p>\n
“This comes out of the Hill Country floods last summer… the need to more regularly and more effectively test a wide range of products,” Ryan Dirker said.<\/p>\n
Emergency management leaders tell me that even if sirens do not sound, residents may still receive a message on their phones.<\/p>\n
“We do intend to test the sirens in the city of Waco at 10:00 a.m… however, that will be weather dependent. But will receive a text,” Dirker said.<\/p>\n
Waco residents are already preparing for the notifications.<\/p>\n
“How’d you guys hear about the alert system happening tomorrow? Yes, we did. I heard it on the news this morning,” one Waco resident said.<\/p>\n
“They were talking about it at work,” another Waco resident said.<\/p>\n
Waco Emergency Management advises residents not to panic if they receive the alert, as it is just a test designed to help keep communities better prepared when real emergencies hit.<\/p>\n
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