FEMA records show alerts were not sent to all phones ahead of Texas flood

Emergency Alert System Concerns - The report raises concerns about the use of the nation's wireless emergency alert system (IPAW) in Kirk County during a flood event [1] - Kirk County did not send any wireless alerts through IPAW, relying instead on a code red alert system that only reaches those who signed up [3] - Some residents received code red alerts after the river had already risen approximately 30 feet [4] - Kirk County had previously used IPAW to warn of flooding, raising questions about why it wasn't used in this instance [6] Systemic Issues and Recommendations - Researchers highlight a lack of standardized nationwide policies and training for IPAW, leading to inconsistent usage across communities [8] - FEMA offers training tools, but local governments need resources and training to effectively use the system [10] - The University of Albany helped FEMA develop a tool for pre-planning effective messages [9] - Counties should amplify alerts using social media or other methods, as cell service can be unreliable in rural areas [11] County Response and Investigation - Kirk County officials did not immediately respond to questions about the lack of IPAW alerts [6] - The sheriff pledged to examine why cell phone alerts did not happen sooner and whether evacuation orders should have been issued [12]