A test emergency message will be issued on Sept. 13

In partnership with the Department of Homeland Security, Sheridan County and the Federal Communications Commission, a test will be conducted of the Wireless Emergency Alert system. This will be a live test. A text message will be sent to all cell phones within 1.5 square miles of the Sheridan County Courthouse at 10 a.m. Sept 13.

This text will test the effectiveness and readiness of the Wireless Emergency Alert System as well as the readiness and effectiveness of the cellular service providers in the Sheridan area.  

Sheridan County Emergency Management Coordinator Jesse Ludikhuize has the ability to select a particular area of Sheridan in which to send an emergency text to utilize this alert system. This gets information to the people who may be in the affected area while not sending the information to anyone who may not be in the selected zone.

During an appearance on Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse program, Ludikhuize told listeners that a link will be provided with the emergency text message.

Ludikhuize is asking members of the public who may receive this test emergency text to please fill out the survey. The information from the survey will inform emergency management of any possible technical issues that may need to be addressed, such as service dead-zones and emergency area coverage.  

In the event of a real-world emergency the day of the test, Sept. 13, a back-up test date of Sept. 19, has been designated. 

See the selected test area on the map below.