KING COUNTY, Wash. — The alert sent to cellphones in the New York area is familiar to anyone with a cellphone.
In fact, a check of a cellphone, will likely show it is automatically signed up for such alerts.
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But now King County has added a new system to its arsenal of alerts. It is called ALERT King County.
"This is different than what they used in New York," said Cameron Satterfield, a spokesman for the King County Office of Emergency Management.
It's different because you actually have to sign up for King County's program. But Satterfield says they use pretty stringent criteria.
"A, it's something that's accurate, relevant, timely," Satterfield said. "And gets people to take the action that they need to do to you know preserve life, preserve property."
At least 4,000 King County residents have opted in by signing up.
A random check in downtown Seattle didn't turn up anyone who has signed up.
"No," said Clifford Miller, when asked if he had signed up. "(But) I think it's a brilliant idea. It'll keep people safe. You know keep everybody alert."
"I don't know," Hannah Park said. "I mean I never really thought about doing it. But I think, as of right now, with what is going on in the world right now, might as well."
Seattle has its own alert system: AlertSeattle.
TO SIGN UP, VISIT THESE LINKS:
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