Just a few days remain before a major test of whether folks in Scott County are tied into a new system of emergency alerts.
Officials announced Friday that Jan. 14 is the day when thousands of calls will go out as a test of who is and is not hooked into the new CodeRED system.
Newcomers and those who want alerts to ring through to their cellphones at work are among those who need to be sure to take steps to sign up.
Most land-wired phone lines will get major alerts such as "active shooter" without doing anything to register.
But there are additional, optional categories such as weather alerts that you'll need to opt into if you want them.
There's a link to the signups from the county's home page, www.co.scott.mn.us. Or you may call 952-496-8381 weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Calls will be placed between about 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Jan. 14.
In most real alerts, the targeted area is much smaller, so it doesn't take that long to get the word out.
