CHEYENNE COUNTY -- The Cheyenne County Commissioners have approved renewing an agreement for the Panhandle Alert system.

The proposal was brought before the commissioners by Evie Flessner, Region 21 Emergency Management Department, in the May 15 county commissioners meeting.

Panhandle Alert is the official emergency notification system used to communicate with community residents during emergencies. Panhandle Alert is used to alert residents of conditions from snow storms to tornados. Alerts can be sent by email, text or voice.

Cheyenne County is nearing the end of a five-year agreement with the service. 

"Our Contract expires June 30," Flessner said.

She said landlines are loaded into the system automatically. Cell phones require the subscriber to choose the service. The service costs the county $3,520.25. 

Emergency Management and Panhandle Public Health District are working together to raise awareness and build partners to alert Panhandle residents. Panhandle Alert partners with Emergency Management Region 21, Emergency Management Region 22, Emergency Management Region 23,  Panhandle Public Health District, Scotts Bluff County Health Department, and Cheyenne County Emergency Communications Center. 

Panhandle Alert is available in Cheyenne, Deuel, Kimball, Morrill, Banner, Box Butte, Dawes, Garden, Grant, Scotts Bluff, Sheridan and Sioux counties.

To sign up for the service, go to http://www.panhandlealert.org/