MEDFORD, Ore. -- Now that more people are cancelling their land lines, you might not get the emergency alert you need from Jackson or Josephine County.
This system is called Citizen Alert. It has been active since 2001, but with the number of fires in recent years and the decreased use in land lines, it is more important than ever to sign up.
People who already have land lines in Jackson or Josephine County are automatically signed up for emergency alerts. If you don't have a land line, you will have to opt in, or sign up yourself. It takes only about ten minutes or less to sign up.
You can choose if you want to get the alerts through texts, emails or phone calls. The system will then ask you to type in your home address. The alerts are useful during wildfire season, but that is not all they are used for.
"It could be for a flood during winter or it could be for fire during summer," said Jackson County Emergency Manager Stacey Anderson-Belt. "The system's used for anything that might pose a threat to life, safety or property."
You can even enter the address of a family member or friend if you want to keep an eye on them as well. Remember to update your information if you change addresses or switch cell phone numbers.
