Notification System Debuts In Charles

Emergency Alert Program Spurred by 2002 Tornado

On the seventh anniversary of a tornado that ripped through Charles County with little warning, the county government launched a public emergency notification program.

The Citizen Notification System will send e-mails and text messages to participating residents to alert them of weather advisories and homeland security notices. After years of planning, the system debuted Tuesday, and county commissioners invited all residents to sign up at the county's Web site.

"CNS will revolutionize the way we stay in contact with our citizens during times of emergencies," said Wayne Cooper (D-At Large), president of the Board of Commissioners.

The idea for such a system began after the tornado of April 2002, which flattened neighborhoods in La Plata and caused more than $100 million in property damage. It remains the worst tornado to strike Maryland.

"There was no real signal sent out warning of impending winds and softball-size hail," Cooper said.

Accurate information was difficult to obtain before and immediately after the storm, with no system in which county officials could distribute updates. Although the county has not experienced a disaster on nearly that scale, tornado warnings are not uncommon in Charles, and developing a comprehensive alert system has long been a priority.

The county "has come a long way since the tragic events of April 28, 2002," said Richard Muth, director of the Maryland Emergency Management Agency. The new system "will ensure the safety of the residents" of Charles and improve the county's communication efforts, he said.

In the next few months, CNS will expand to include announcements of special events and general county news. Residents will be able to select categories they are interested in and receive updates on their computer, cellphone or BlackBerry.

For now, participants can receive information about weather alerts, emergency protective orders and public health advisories.

"We hope all of the folks in Charles County will register on the CNS system," Cooper said. "In this ever-changing world, we all need to be informed and . . . have information at our fingertips."

To register for the public notification system, visit www.charlescounty.org and click on the blue "CNS" icon.