Emergency Messaging and Warning Systems

We will use all available and appropriate warning tools to alert the community of any life-threatening, all-risk, all-hazard emergency from natural threats or human-caused threats. Here are the 5 systems that are utilized for Emergency Warning*. During an active emergency that is longer than several hours, you may find information on the Public Safety Hub.  

Emergency Messaging in Pennington County:

Pennington County Public Warning Messages enable us to provide you with critical information quickly in a variety of situations including life-threatening severe weather warnings, evacuation notices, hazardous chemical leaks, civil disturbance activity, and more. If we can't reach you, we can't warn youSign Up

Pennington County has 34 sirens to warn of impending danger located in Box Elder, Hill City, Keystone, New Underwood, Rapid City, and Wall. Sirens are used for any life-threatening, all-risk, all-hazard emergency from natural threats or human-caused threats as determined by key public safety officials. Sirens are tested at noon on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. Learn more.

A nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from a nearby National Weather Service office to specially configured NOAA weather radio receivers. You must have a weather radio to receive these alerts. This is an especially good option if you live in an area of Pennington County that does not have good cell phone service. Learn More.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) send free informational text messages to WEA-enabled cell phones within range of an imminent and dangerous local situation, severe weather event, or AMBER emergency. Learn More.

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national public warning system that requires broadcasters, satellite digital audio service and direct broadcast satellite providers, cable television systems, and wireless cable systems to provide the President with a communications capability to address the American people within 10 minutes during a national emergency. Learn More.

*We do use additional systems for non-emergency messaging tools and to share additional information regarding warning information sent to the public on our social media channels. Learn More