Urbandale Residents Can Receive Severe Weather Alerts On Cell Phones

When severe weather strikes, Urbandale residents will be in the know.

Urbandale residents can now receive severe weather alerts on their cell phones, thanks to the Urbandale Fire Department's new text alert system.

Residents can subscribe to receive a text message or tweet when the National Weather Service issues watches or warnings for inclement weather - snow, rain and more.

To subscribe text 'Follow UFDAlerts' to 40404 or follow @UFDAlerts on Twitter.

The new system allows authorities to spread word of weather conditions, even as the city's storm warning sirens are activated.

“Most people have their phones with them whether they’re indoors or outdoors, and there’s a good chance they’re going to get notified when they otherwise wouldn’t have,” Brad Button, supervisor with Westcom, the joint dispatching system for Urbandale, Clive and West Des Moines, told the Des Moines Register.

Westcom tests the sirens the first Saturday of each month. During those tests Westcom receives a number of calls concerning the sirens.

The text message alerts will help diffuse any confusion. Messages will also automatically post to the fire department's Facebook page.

But with any technology, officials said there could be a delay in receiving the messages. Officials suggest residents still purchase radios for severe weather information.