NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — With severe weather, it's advised to have multiple ways to receive alerts about your area. In addition to the free WKRN Weather Authority app, communities across Middle Tennessee have specific community alert systems meant for their area.
Cell phones can receive Wireless Emergency Alerts, which is a federal public safety system that alerts citizens about public safety emergencies — including severe weather warnings. Before storms hit, you should make sure this option is toggled "on" on your mobile device.
Additionally, many communities across Tennessee have tornado warning sirens, which are designed to warn those when there is a warning in the area. If you hear a tornado warning siren, you should seek shelter immediately.
Check and see if your county or city's emergency management agency has an active social media page to follow. Below is a non-comprehensive list of community alert systems across Middle Tennessee:
Davidson County and Metro Nashville
The Nashville Office of Emergency Management has a Facebook page and the Nashville Emergency Operations Center operates a feed on X, formerly Twitter. Though these are not always the fastest communications channels, the office recommends following to stay up-to-date.
One of the newest public safety programs that enables Metro to let you know when there are threats in the Nashville area is the Metro Emergency Alert and Notification System. Residents who provide contact information are provided with notifications about everything from criminal activity to weather. You can follow this link to sign up for MEANS if you haven't already to receive alerts via cell or landline phone call, text, email or TTY. You will have to create a free account.
Additionally, Metro officials will update the Nashville Emergency Response Viewing Engine with updates about road closures, evacuation areas or routes, shelters and other relief centers. You can follow this link to view NERVE and learn about what's happening around you — it's mobile device compatible and can help you avoid closed roads or other obstacles.
During times of disaster, HubNashville services will operate as an emergency hotline. You can call them about 615-862-8600.
Rutherford County
Rutherford County uses a system called Smart911, which delivers everything from weather alerts to evacuation orders and transportation updates like road closures. Follow this link to sign up for alerts and search "Smart911" wherever you download apps to have the alert system directly on your phone.
Wilson County and Mt. Juliet
Like Rutherford County, the City of Mt. Juliet also utilizes "Smart911" to alert residents to severe weather and other safety threats in the area. If you don't want to download the app and you want to receive alerts for Mt. Juliet, you can text "MJ" to 67283.
Maury County
Maury County's Office of Emergency Management partners with Columbia, Mount Pleasant and Spring Hill. The area also utilizes Smart911 technology for their alerts.
Montgomery County and Clarksville
Montgomery County and Clarksville, Tennessee utilize Weather Alerts — a free service that allows emergency response agencies to send out updates about emergencies. You can follow this link to download the app in the App Store and this link to download the app from the Gogle Play store. You can also follow this link to sign up for notifications online
Sumner County
The City of Gallatin utilizes a "CodeRED" system, which is a customizable system that allows you to receive time-sensitive information about emergencies or urgent notifications. Follow this link to enroll in CodeRED online or search for "CodeRED" on the App Store or Google Play. The City of Gallatin has provided the following instructions for receiving messages:
1. Start by clicking the enroll link. You'll be taken to a new subscriber page asking you to enter your email address, delivery preferences and optional password. Setting a password will allow you to control how your email address is subscribed and unsubscribed to in the system and protect from others subscribing on your behalf, without your permission.
2. Enter the information then press the “save” button.
3. After pressing the “save” button, you'll be taken to the "quick subscribe" page where you can continue to subscribe to email alert services. After making your selections, press the “save” button.
4. After selecting your subscription pages, you will be asked to enter your ZIP code, and then press the “save” option. This is an optional question.
5. To activate your subscription request, you will be sent a message to your email account asking you to confirm your request by pressing on an enclosed link.
Williamson County
You can follow this link to sign up for the Williamson County Emergency Alert System, which allows you to choose the areas for which you would like to receive alerts. Williamson County has provided a list of steps to take to sign up for the alert system if you haven't already:
- Create a memorable username, and then fill out the remaining sections.
- Add in the locations that you wish to receive notifications within Williamson County
- If you are registering for yourself or a loved one, make sure to select any individual special needs. This helps first responders know how to respond in the event of a disaster.
- Select the types of alerts that you wish to receive from the system, weather or community-related.
Don’t forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker app.