DickinsonAlert is an Emergency Notification System that serves Dickinson County, Iowa. DickinsonAlert allows citizens to sign up for various types of notifications including severe weather alerts and local emergency notifications. In addition, many communities use the system to push alerts to their residents for things like snow removal, road closures, and utility disruptions. Messages can be issued via a voice call, text message, and/or e-mail.
Types of alerts you can sign up for include:
- Emergency Alerts from Public Safety Agencies in Dickinson County (included automatically when you register)
- Optional Alerts
- Weather Alerts (Watches & Warnings)
- Community Alerts from all 10 cities in Dickinson County (select the city or cities you want - these messages are typically non-emergency messages such as notices for snow emergencies, changes in garbage pickup, and so forth)
- Special needs information
- Alerts from the Spirit Lake Community School District (text SLINDIANS to 69310)
- Dickinson County Trails (text DCTRAILS to 69310)
Don't confuse DickinsonAlert with Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) — these are two separate systems. Learn more about Wireless Emergency Alerts here.
Important
Save the following items in your contact list as "DickinsonAlert" so you will know when we're calling, texting, or e-mailing you:
- 712-555-5555 for phone calls
- 69310 for text messages
- noreply@dcem.us for e-mail messages
Just Visiting?
If you're visiting Dickinson County for a weekend or a short period of time, we offer a quick way to sign-up for DickinsonAlert. Simply text DICKINSON to 69310 and you will be registered to receive weather alerts by text message to your cell phone. When it's to head home, just text STOP to 69310 to stop the messages. NOTE: This service is geared for tourists and those visiting for a short period of time. For our regular and seasonal residents, we recommend signing up for the full service that tailors weather alerts to your location and also offers more options.
Live in a Surrounding County?
Anyone can register for DickinsonAlert, however, if you live in a surrounding county, you will want to register for alerts in your county as well. Here are links to registration pages for mass notification systems in the counties surrounding Dickinson County:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is DickinsonAlert?
DickinsonAlert is a system that allows a client to immediately send out text messages, voice calls, emails and pages in the event of an emergency or severe weather event.
In addition to the opt-in warning notification service, the system has many potential beneficial uses. For example, the system provides the client with the capability to automatically send a recorded voice message to each phone number in the client’s database or to specifically targeted areas identified through electronic maps. The system can also be used for other special messages for which users “opt in” or request notification on certain topics or events.
Please note that no communication distribution method is infallible. For that reason, redundant systems of emergency notification, including the outdoor siren system, telephone, e-mail, text messages, and external systems on commercial radio and TV stations or weather radios may be used to send out alerts as soon as possible.
In addition to the opt-in warning notification service, the system has many potential beneficial uses. For example, the system provides the client with the capability to automatically send a recorded voice message to each phone number in the client’s database or to specifically targeted areas identified through electronic maps. The system can also be used for other special messages for which users “opt in” or request notification on certain topics or events.
Please note that no communication distribution method is infallible. For that reason, redundant systems of emergency notification, including the outdoor siren system, telephone, e-mail, text messages, and external systems on commercial radio and TV stations or weather radios may be used to send out alerts as soon as possible.
How do I sign up or register for the DickinsonAlert?
How many phone numbers and e-mail addresses can I register?
How do I acquire additional information about DickinsonAlert, report a problem with the system, or get help with my registration?
I registered, but I don't seem to be receiving any notifications. What should I do?
Is there a charge for registering to receive messages through DickinsonAlert?
What type of notifications will I receive?
I do not have Internet access, how can I sign up to get DickinsonAlert voice messages to my phones?
Does DickinsonAlert sell the phone numbers? Will registering for this system cause me to get more marketing calls or spam e-mails?
How do I unsubscribe if I do not want to receive notification messages anymore?
How do I update my information if my e-mail address, cell phone number, or other information has changed?
How do I switch a phone number from receiving a text message to receiving a voice call or vice versa?
How do I switch a phone number from being part of an "opt-in" group for which I previously registered?
Exactly what phones will be able to receive these voice notification calls?
Can DickinsonAlert use the public database to have the Notification System call me on unimportant matters?
Will DickinsonAlert work if there is a power failure?
Will all cellular phone carriers deliver DickinsonAlert messages?
Will I receive ads or Spam on my phone?
I don't use text messages. Can I receive DickinsonAlert notifications by e-mail?
Can I register a phone number outside of the service area?
Can I register an address outside of the service area?
Why does DickinsonAlert send text messages?
After I received a voice message notification the system asked me to "Press 1 to acknowledge receipt". Do I have to press 1?
How can the system call everyone in the service area at once?
Will DickinsonAlert be periodically tested?