Tompkins County reminds residents to sign up for geo-targeted, customized SIREN alerts

As Tompkins County implements the new SIREN system for mass emergency notification, residents are reminded to sign up for the service to receive alerts from SIREN via SMS text message, email, and/or voice message.

SIREN, or Safety & Incident Real-Time Emergency Notifications, replaces Swift 911, and offers residents localized, geo-targeted alerts.

Tompkins County SIREN delivers important information during emergencies and is now the official emergency notification system used by Tompkins County, the City of Ithaca, and surrounding towns and villages. It is provided free of charge, although data rates may apply depending on your carrier.

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Residents of Tompkins County can sign up for SIREN alerts online or by texting SIREN to 67283.

Swift911 users were automatically migrated into the new system, but will need to create a new profile in SIREN in order to manage their account.

SIREN isn't limited to Tompkins County residents. The service is available to anyone who lives, works, travels through or visits Tompkins County, City of Ithaca, and other surrounding local communities.

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This article originally appeared on Ithaca Journal: How to get geo-targeted SIREN alerts in Ithaca, Tompkins County