That extreme emergency alert you received on your phone last weekend during the winter storm— Wonder where it came from? That alert was the first of its kind, sent out by the state. The Division of Emergency Management sent the alert to cell phones, radio and television stations because of the dangers the winter storm brought, especially if a person became stranded. The message read, “unless it is an emergency, please do not drive on Kansas roads. It is very dangerous for you and for our emergency services employees. Stay home. Stay safe. Many Kansas state and federal highways are closed due to the very dangerous conditions. These conditions will continue into Monday, January 6, 2025.”
Director Jonathan York says you could see similar alerts during future winter storms, but not every time. They only want to use it in extreme emergencies, as the alert said. York says they only want to use it when they need to get a message out to the public quickly.
