Receive Weather Alerts and Emergency Messages by Text Message and E-Mail

Sign-up by clicking the button above. Residents may sign up to receive Weather Alerts from the MyStateUSA Alertsense System. Weather alerts can be sent to text messaging devices, and multiple email addresses/devices.

Weather alert information is generated by the National Weather Service at the County level. Signing up using any zip code within Champaign County, IL will allow you to receive the weather-related notices of your choice for all of Champaign County, IL. You need only subscribe with one Champaign County Zip Code to receive all weather messages pertaining to Champaign County.

Emergency notices generated by Champaign County for the public will also be sent in this manner.

The system provides the option of adding a second zip code for Weather Alerts for those who live or work in another county, but also wish to receive Alerts in Champaign County. It is recommended that you sign up for alerts using the zip code(s) where you spend most of your time.

This service is considered a supplement to a working NOAA Weather Radio. This service should not be relied on as a primary warning device, as text messages and e-mail messages can sometimes be delayed based on network traffic on your cellular carrier and/or email provider.

Messages are sent as follows:

• Weather Warnings - 24 hours per day to Text Message and e-mail
• Weather Watches - Severe Weather Watches (Tornado Watch, Severe Storm etc..) - 24 hours per day to text message and e-mail. Less severe types of watches will go only to e-mail.
• Weather Advisories - These are less severe in nature. Text messages are sent between 9 AM and 9 PM, and emailed 24 hours per day. This restriction will minimize text message receipt during night time hours.
• Emergency Messages from Champaign County - 24 hours per day by text message and e-mail.

There is no charge for this service, however your cellular carrier may charge for the receipt of text messages depending on your service plan. Please check with your carrier to determine applicable charges for the receipt of text messages. The National Weather Service, Champaign County and MyStateUSA are not responsible for these charges.

The Champaign County Emergency Management Agency is a department of Champaign County and is located in east central Illinois.  Covering 1,001 square miles, the county seat is Urbana.  Champaign-Urbana comprise the 'metropolitan' area with the University of Illinois located between the two cities.  Rural Champaign County is made up of mostly agricultural areas mixed with several small towns.

For more information about our county, please check out the Champaign County Homepage.

Champaign County EMA operates an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Urbana, Illinois.  In addition, the EMA administrative offices and METCAD, the primary 9-1-1 center serving Champaign County, are located in this facility.  This close working relationship proves beneficial on day-to-day incidents as well as major events and emergencies.

The National Weather Service broadcasts warnings, watches and forecasts (as well as other hazard information) 24 hours a day.  Known as the "voice of the national weather service", NOAA Weather Radio is provided as a public service by the Department of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).   We strongly recommend that every home be equipped with an alerting style NOAA Weather Radio.  The various features and functions are described below.

In Champaign County, NOAA Weather Radio is broadcast on the frequency of 162.550 MHz.  The FIPS codes required to program the NWR-SAME radio receivers are available HERE.  See below for more discussion on the new NWR-SAME receivers.

The NOAA Weather Radio network has more than 425 stations in the 50 states and near adjacent coastal waters, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and U.S. Pacific Territories.

What's the weather?  Thanks to NOAA Weather Radio, you'll always have the answer to that question and access to potentially life-saving emergency information whenever you need it.  Click HERE To hear the current forecast for Champaign, Illinois, WXJ-76 on 162.550 MHz.

What else to listen for:

Severe Thunderstorm Watch means severe thunderstorms are possible in your area.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning means a severe thunderstorm is imminent or has been indicated by Doppler radar or reported by storm spotters.

Tornado Watch means tornadoes are possible in your area.   Remain alert for approaching storms and be prepared to seek shelter.

Tornado Warning means a tornado is imminent or has been indicated by Doppler radar or reported by storm spotters.  Move to your predesignated place of safety immediately!

Flash Flood or Flood Watch means flash flooding or flooding is possible in your area.

Flash Flood or Flood Warning means flash flooding or flooding is occurring or is imminent.  Take necessary precautions immediately!

Winter Storm Watch means hazardous winter weather conditions, such as heavy snow and/or ice are possible in your area.

Winter Storm Warning means hazardous winter weather conditions are forecast to occur within 12 hours or are about to begin in your area.   Stay indoors!

When you purchase a NOAA Weather Radio receiver, you are purchasing part of the National Weather Service network.  The network is constantly upgrading its technology to provide the best weather reporting service possible for the nation.

For less than the cost of a new pair of shoes, you can own a special weather radio that provides instant access to the same weather reports and emergency information that meteorologists and emergency personnel use --- information that can save your life!

Seconds save lives!  Weather radios equipped with a special alarm tone feature can sound an alert and give you immediate information about a life-threatening situation.  During an emergency, National Weather Service forecasters will interrupt routine weather radio programming and send out a special tone that activates weather radios in the listening area.  The hearing and visually impaired also can get these warnings by connecting weather radios with alarm tones to other kinds of attention-getting devices like strobe lights, pagers, bed-shakers, personal computers and text printers. 

Public safety experts agree:  the receivers should be standard equipment in every home.  They are especially valuable in places that are entrusted with public safety, including hospitals, schools, places of worship, nursing homes, restaurants, grocery stores, recreation centers, office buildings, sports facilities, theaters, retail stores, bus and train stations, airports, marinas and other public-gathering places.

Weather radios come in many sizes and with a variety of functions and costs.  Many of the radios sound a tone alarm and/or turn on the audio when severe weather announcements or emergency information are broadcast.  To make use of the new digital coding technology, more sophisticated weather radio receivers are now available.   New radios are available which feature NOAA Weather Radio Specific Area Message Encoding, or NWR-SAME, technology.  These radios can be programmed to alert only for a specific area.

Traditionally, severe weather announcements have used an analog tone of 1050 Hz to trigger alarms on special NOAA Weather Radio receivers.  However, this tone is used for any watch or warning within a 40 mile radius of the transmitter, resulting in receivers sounding an alarm for a storm that may be well away from the listener. In NWR-SAME coding, a digital message contains information on the type of watch or warning, counties affected, and valid time of the watch or warning. Using these codes, broadcast users can screen out severe weather alarms for areas that do not apply to them.

Most NOAA Weather Radio receivers are either battery-operated portables or AC-powered desktop models with battery backup so they can be used in many different situations.  Some CB radios, scanners, short wave and AM/FM radios are capable of receiving NOAA Weather Radio transmissions.  Many communities throughout the United States also make Weather Radio available on cable TV and broadcast television's secondary audio programming channels.

There's nothing we can do to prevent severe weather, but you can take steps to prepare yourself and your family to take swift action to protect themselves, regardless of where they are when severe weather strikes.

Here's what you can do to prepare yourself and your family...

Before Lightning Strikes...

Keep an eye on the sky.  Look for darkening skies, flashes of light, or increasing wind.  Listen for the sound of thunder.
If you can hear thunder, you are close enough to the storm to be struck by lightning.  Go to safe shelter immediately and stay there till the storm has passed.
Listen to NOAA Weather Radio (162.550 MHz in Champaign, Illinois), commercial radio, or television for the latest weather forecasts.

When a Storm Approaches...

• Find shelter in a building or car.  Keep car windows closed and avoid convertibles.
• Draw blinds and shades over windows.  If windows break due to objects blown by the wind, the shades will prevent glass from shattering into your home
• Telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity.  Unplug appliances.  Avoid using the telephone or any electrical appliances.
• Avoid taking a bath or shower, or running water for any other purpose.
• Turn off the air conditioner.  Power surges from lightning can overload the compressor, resulting in a costly repair job.

If Caught Outside...

If you are in the woods, take shelter under the shorter trees. If you are boating or swimming, get to land and find shelter immediately!

Protecting Yourself Outside...

Go to a low-lying, open place away from trees, poles, or metal objects.  Make sure the place you pick is not subject to  flooding.

Be a Very Small Target!

Squat low to the ground.  Place your hands on your knees with your head between them.   Make yourself the smallest target possible. Do not lie flat on the ground -- This will make you a larger target!

After the Storm Passes...

Stay away from storm-damaged areas. Listen to the radio for information and instructions.

If Someone is Struck by Lightning...

People struck by lightning carry no electrical charge and can be handled safely. Call for help.  Get someone to dial 9-1-1. The injured person has received an electrical shock and may be burned, both where they were struck and where the electricity left their body.  Check for burns in both places. Give first aid.  If breathing has stopped, begin rescue breathing.  if the heart has stopped beating, a trained person should give CPR.

Learn First Aid and CPR

Take a first aid and CPR course.  Contact your local fire department, hospital, ambulance service or Red Cross chapter for class schedules and any fees.