A message from Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management AND Hardin County Emergency Management:
Iowans urged to refrain from calling 9-1-1 to report receiving test emergency messages via text
This afternoon, mobile phone users in Iowa and about a dozen other states may have received one or more text messages via Wireless Emergency Alerts. These messages have not originated from the State of Iowa or any local jurisdiction in Iowa.
Iowa Homeland Security and Emergency Management would like to remind mobile phone users that these text messages are TEST messages only. Iowans are asked to refrain from calling 9-1-1 to report receiving these messages, as 9-1-1 is meant for emergency calls only. State officials are actively investigating the issue at this time and will provide an update once additional facts are obtained.