Spring is well underway and with it brings not only warmer temperatures, but the almost constant threat of possible strong and sometimes server storms, as well as tornado watches, warnings, and flash flooding.

County and EMS officials would like to remind residents who haven’t already done so, that it’s still not too late to sign up for the CodeRED Weather Warning system, an automatic weather notification service that alerts citizens in the path of severe thunderstorms, flash floods and tornados.

Officials are encouraging all residents and businesses to go to the Clinton County website, at www.clintoncountyems.org, click on CodeRED, located under the Warning Signals icon and enter your contact information. At sign up, you may select which types of warnings you would like to receive. There is no direct charge to you for this service.

If you do not have Internet access, please contact a friend or family member to help add your contact information to the emergency database. You can also call the county directly 606-387-5917.

Clinton County Director of Emergency Services Lonnie Scott noted that several people in the county may not have access to a computer or the Internet and that the local EMS has helped many residents put their phone numbers into the database. Anyone can receive the CodeRED service by calling the local Emergency Services Office at 387-8636 and they will put your information into the system.

Scott also said that residents can have more than one phone number put into the system, such as having your home number and cell phone number listed in order for you to be alerted about severe weather in the direct path of a storm, no matter where you are.

Scott also noted CodeRED alerts individuals in the direct path of a storm. The local dispatch also alerts all county residents, sometime with a second message or issued warning, about a watch or warning in the general area that could affect residents should a storm system change course.

The CodeRED warning system was initiated several years ago for a four county area that was in danger of being affected by a breach in Wolf Creek Dam while the dam was under repairs for leakage. The system was initially funded by a federal grant.

After the grant ran out, counties had the option of keeping the service at an annual cost to provide its citizens the continued weather warnings at no direct cost to individuals who are signed up. The county paid only $3,610 for the service this year.