MADISON COUNTY, IL (KMOX) - Residents of Madison County now have a way to be warned about severe weather, via their telephones.

Alan Dunstan Madison County’s Board Chairman says the CodeRED alert system is crucial to saving lives in small communities that do not have storm warning sirens. No you can register your cell phone or landline.

In addition to severe weather alerts, eventually, the CodeRED system will send messages to your phone on evacuation notices, chemical spills and missing child alerts.

The cost of Code-Red is 50-thousand-dollars yearly and is entirely funded by the Madison County Government. However, Dunstan tells KMOX, the County is in discussions with several companies who may provide financial support for the program.

The CodeRED program will be implemented by the Madison County Emergency Management Agency. The system will be capable of dialing thousands of telephone numbers in minutes.

To register your phone, www.mymadisoncountyema.com