21 August 2023
The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced this week that it has an agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency to use its national wireless emergency alert system for local alerts.
This is the same system that shares AMBER alerts and other “time-sensitive” information during natural disasters or threats to public safety.
The system allows MnDOT to now send alerts directly to mobile devices automatically. Other states, such as Pennsylvania, Georgia and Texas, have used these types of alerts for major road closure alerts. In addition, many local county sheriff’s offices already use these alerts.
“The ability to send (these alerts) is an important additional tool for MnDOT to provide real-time information to the traveling public,” said Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger. “Road closures can occur suddenly, especially in cases of severe weather or major crashes on the highway system.”
The new agreement will allow MnDOT to send alerts to people near highway closures or detours that will help minimize motorists on roadways during winter conditions and during emergencies when law enforcement and emergency personnel need to respond quickly, Daubenberger said in a press release.
The release gave an example of an alert that might be sent: “EMERGENCY ALERT – The I-90 corridor is closed from the South Dakota border to Albert Lea due to blizzard conditions. Go to www.511mn.org for more information and updates.”
MnDOT will send alerts such as the above when highway closures of more than four hours are expected because of weather or major crashes or other incidents. The alerts will be sent to mobile phones near the closures.
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