Alabama Launches Statewide Flood Alert System, Opt in Today

Advance knowledge of a pending threat can and has saved lives. That fact motivated Gov. Ivey to work with the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) and state lawmakers to develop a statewide notification system, which is active as of today.

Flooding is one of the state’s most frequent and dangerous natural hazards, affecting both rural counties in West Alabama and large metro areas. West Alabama’s terrain of steep hills, narrow hollows, and dense clay soils causes water to rise fast, especially in Tuscaloosa, Fayette, Walker, Jefferson, Shelby, Greene & Hale counties.

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The new system will give Alabamians direct information about flooding threats along with other severe weather and non-weather threats via cell and landline phones, as well as their local television and radio broadcast stations.

“As I announced in January, our new statewide notification system will ensure all Alabamians have the greatest access to warnings of disasters including flooding,” the governor was quoted as saying in a press release from her office today. “Protecting the safety of all Alabamians, especially our children, is our top priority and this statewide flood notification system will enable families to receive more timely alerts to prepare and stay safe.”

Residents can opt in to receive alerts from Alabama EMA in a few ways:

1. Visit ema.alabama.gov, click on the ALalert section, and complete the opt-in form.
2. For emergency alerts and notifications by text message, text ALalert to 77295.
3. For general preparedness information and updates by text message, text ALinfo to 77295.

It has been a goal of AEMA for years to set up a statewide alert mechanism in addition to local alert systems. It wasn't until the tragic July 2025 Texas flooding along the Guadalupe River, where hundreds died, including 27 at a summer camp, 25 of them children, that the need for a system covering the entire state became a priority in Alabama and other states.

One of the victims of the Texas flood was an eight-year-old Homewood girl named Sarah Marsh. Texas authorities found that Marsh and other girls at Camp Mystic may have survived had adequate warning been received over the entire area.

On April 8, 2026, Governor Ivey signed the Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act into law, reinforcing her commitment to ensuring the safety and preparedness of Alabama’s summer camps.

The new system will especially assist emergency management officials in rural counties like Perry, Hale, Greene, Sumter, Pickens, and Lamar in alerting citizens is sparsly populated areas.

The alert system was part of Governor Ivey's legislative agenda announced during her January State of the State Address. It was part of the Sarah Marsh Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act, passed by the legislature and signed into law by Ivey in April. $1.2 million was allocated to launch the system this year, which went live today.

“The watchword for all Alabamians is preparedness, and the activation of the new statewide notification system will provide the most effective tools for all our citizens to be prepared in the event of catastrophic floods and other disasters,” Governor Ivey added. “I encourage all Alabamians to sign up for the new alert system today.”