Knox County EMA — The new IPAWS emergency alert system, explained

Knox County officially activated its new emergency alert system Monday morning, with Galesburg Fire Chief Randy Hovind and Deputy Chief Brock Schmitt explaining the transition live on Galesburg's Morning News ahead of the test. Hovind and  Schmitt joined Jay Redfern and Tyler Gumm in studio to explain the transition from CodeRED to IPAWS — the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System, a federally funded platform administered by FEMA that automatically pushes alerts to mobile devices, televisions, and radios within a targeted geographic area. No subscription required. The live test was scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, March 9, 2026. Due to a technical issue encountered during the first live activation of the system, alerts went out to cell phones at 10:47 a.m. Officials noted that identifying and resolving exactly these kinds of issues is the purpose of a test — before the system is needed for an actual emergency. Most residents did not receive the test alert — by design. Phones are set by default not to receive test alerts, only actual emergencies. Hovind and Schmitt explained what that means and what residents should know going forward. For background on the system and what prompted the switch from CodeRED, see our earlier story: Knox County testing new IPAWS emergency alert system Monday morning. Topics covered in this interview Why Knox County moved away from CodeRED — low reach, platform changes, and cumbersome geo-targeting How IPAWS works — automatic push to phones, TVs, radios, and NOAA weather radios Geo-fencing capabilities — from county-wide alerts down to a single building What the distinctive alert sound means and why it was designed to cut through notification fatigue Why most residents did not receive Monday's test — and why that is normal How to check your phone settings to ensure you can receive government alerts Key use cases — hazmat incidents, evacuations, shelter-in-place orders, and severe weather The role of BNSF Railway traffic in making hazmat alerting a priority for Galesburg How the system counters misinformation during emergencies The future of outdoor warning sirens and their limitations Severe weather outlook for Tuesday night into Wednesday   For more information or to verify your phone settings, visit the City of Galesburg website for step-by-step instructions for both iPhone and Android users. If you need help, contact the Knox County Emergency Management Agency.