April through June is peak tornado season in Illinois. To help prepare for potentially dangerous weather, Sangamon County reminds residents of its public safety alert system.
Sangamon Alert Messaging System or SAM, is the free community notification system available to residents that sends alerts concerning time-sensitive and emergency information via phone calls, text messages, emails or social media posts.
SAM allows County officials to effectively communicate time-sensitive messages using a robust dialing infrastructure. This access allows calls to be delivered seconds after public safety officials launch a message.
Examples of when SAM may be used include severe weather, evacuation notices, boil water notices, floods, criminal activity, and missing persons/children.
Registering for SAM is free. Residents can customize their alert preferences. In addition to county officials, several government agencies and school districts use the SAM system. Including:
Auburn Fire Protection District; Auburn Police Department; city of Auburn; village of Buffalo; Chatham Fire Protection District; village of Chatham; village of Curran; Dawson Fire Protection District; village of Dawson; village of Divernon; village of Grandview; village of Illiopolis; Jerome Police Department; village of Jerome; Leland Grove Police Department; city of Leland Grove; Loami Fire Protection District; Loami Police Department; Mechanicsburg Fire Protection District; village of Mechanicsburg; New Berlin CUSD 16; New Berlin Police Department; Pawnee CUSD 11; Pawnee Fire Protection District; Pawnee Police Department; Village of Pawnee; Pleasant Plains Fire Protection District; Pleasant Plains Police Department; Village of Pleasant Plains; Riverton Fire Protection District; Riverton Police Department; village of Riverton; Rochester Fire Protection District; Sangamon County Emergency Management; Sangamon County Rescue Squad; Sangamon County Sheriff's Office; Sherman Fire Protection District; Sherman Police Department; Village of Sherman; Southern View Police Department; village of Southern View; Spaulding Police Department; Springfield School District 186; Tri-City CUSD 1; Tri-City Police Department; City of Virden; Williamsville CUSD 15 and the Village of Williamsville.
Sign up for SAM by clicking HERE.