Missouri County Considers Phone Emergency Alert System

An eastern Missouri community wants to use more than outdoor sirens to alert people to the threat of tornadoes.

Marion County in eastern Missouri is collecting bids for a system that would use residents’ telephones to advise them of emergency situations.

Officials estimate the system will cost between $13,000 and $14,000.

The Hannibal Courier-Post reported that the alert system would have the capability of calling every land-line telephone number contained in Marion County 911’s database. People who rely solely on a cell phone will have the option of signing up for emergency notifications.

The expense of the system will be split between the cities of Hannibal and Palmyra and Marion counties.