The first monthly test will take place today to ensure that the Alert Iowa Emergency Notification System in Adair and Guthrie counties continues to work seamlessly.

Emergency Management Coordinator Bob Kempf says the test will take place at the same time each month, unless there is severe weather, in which case it will be cancelled. “We’ve established a date and time to be the 15th of each month at 3 p.m. to do a county-wide test of this system. Everybody that has signed up in Adair and Guthrie Counties will receive a test message then, every month.”

Kempf recommends users of the service save the number 641-332-3030 as ‘Alert Iowa’ or something similar in their phone contacts, so they know what is calling or texting them during a test or a real emergency.

He add that anybody can still sign up for the free service by going to the Adair or Guthrie County website, the ‘Adair & Guthrie County EMAs’ Facebook page or by calling 641-332-3030.