SALEM — Salem residents are being urged to sign up for free Wireless Emergency Alerts as a means to receive text messages, voice calls and emails in case of an emergency or severe weather.

“What it allows us to do, we can get information out quickly through our 911 system,” Police Chief J.T. Panezott said.

A recent tornado warning resulted in the department posting information on social media and triggering the city’s warning siren, prompting phone calls from some residents asking why the siren was going off.

Anyone already signed up for WENS through the Columbiana County Emergency Management Agency received the warning on their phone. Considering the recent weather situation, Panezott thought it would be a good idea to remind people again to sign up.

The emergency alert system could be used for not just dangerous weather, but any type of emergency, such as a train derailment or hazardous materials situation that requires evacuation or even an active shooter situation.

Panezott said the warnings are issued in real time and Detective Brad Davis said someone who has elderly parents living in the area can also sign up to know what’s happening in their community. People can sign up for multiple zip codes for texts or phone calls or both.

“It’s a great system. I would recommend everybody do it now, immediately,” Panezott said.

Go to https://entry.inspironlogistics.com/columbiana_oh/wens.cfm to sign up for Columbiana County alerts.

Columbiana County EMA Director Peggy Clark said they started using the system last year as a way to notify residents throughout the county for any type of emergency in their area. They can notify an entire community or target neighborhoods through the mapping system or any specific area for notification.

Clark said WENS has been used a couple of times, such as letting people know about the warming centers. There was also a situation last summer when the power company was turning off the electricity in one community on an exceptionally hot day.

The system is also connected to a federal government system so if a disaster of national magnitude occurred, notifications would be sent. The system is interconnected to the National Weather Service so anytime there’s a warning, such as a storm or tornado, there’s an automatic notification.

The EMA has been urging people throughout the county to sign up for WENS at various events. At least 20,000 have signed up so far. Clark said they’ll be talking about it during the annual Skywarn training set for 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the county Career and Technical Center.

Panezott said his department will be signing people up during the Salem Super Cruise in June. The sign-up process allows for people to indicate if they have special medical considerations, limited mobility or are transportation dependent.

He also advised that for anyone in Salem when the siren goes off, pay attention. That’s the signal to take immediate shelter. The siren is tested once per week at noon on Saturday, so if it’s any other time than that, it’s not a test — it’s for real and it means seek safety.

If people have WENS, they’ll get the notification immediately on their phone via text message or through a call, so if they don’t hear the siren, they’ll know what’s coming and to seek shelter.

Even people who don’t live here, but work here, should sign up.

mgreier@salemnews.net