Dubois County Eyes Automatic Cell-Phone Alert System for Emergencies
Dubois County officials are moving toward adopting a new cell-phone alert system designed to send urgent warnings automatically to residents without requiring them to sign up.
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Dubois County officials are moving toward adopting a new cell-phone alert system designed to send urgent warnings automatically to residents without requiring them to sign up. The system is known as IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System), and could bring faster, more widespread emergency notifications throughout the county.
At the county commissioners meeting on September 17, 2025, Emergency Management Director Tammy Humbert presented the proposal. She emphasized that the current system — which often relies on opt-in alerts, social media, and local media — leaves gaps in how quickly and reliably people receive alerts. Director of 911, Stuart Wilson, supported the proposal, noting recent hazardous material incidents and concern over how notification delays have occurred.
If implemented, IPAWS would allow emergency alerts (for events like shelter-in-place orders, chemical spills, or other major incidents) to be delivered directly to all cell phones in affected geographic areas, automatically, without residents needing to register. The proposed cost is about $1,800 per year, a budget increase for the Emergency Management Agency expected to be included in the 2026 county budget. Training and monthly testing requirements are part of the plan, as are standard operating procedures governing when alerts are issued.
Proponents say this would address delays and inconsistencies in current notification practices. The county currently uses Rave Dispatch for certain officials (fire chiefs, police chiefs, etc.), but not for broad public alerts. With around 77 facilities in Dubois County that store hazardous materials, plus significant rail traffic carrying such materials, having a rapid notification tool could be critical.
One open question remains: when the county council will formally vote on funding and adopt the system. Also unclear are the exact zones that alerts will cover, how false alarms will be handled, and how the public will be informed about when the system activates. Meetings and public input may be forthcoming.