Warren County, Ohio – An emergency alert sent out to residents of Warren County on Saturday afternoon caused some confusion and concern after it was inadvertently disseminated to "unintended areas," according to the Warren County Sheriff's Office.

The alert, which referenced an "active incident" in the Landen area of Deerfield Township, initially led to widespread concern before authorities clarified the situation. The Warren County Sheriff's Office quickly took to social media to reassure the public, stating that "there is no threat to the community and this is an isolated incident."

Despite the clarification, the incident highlighted the critical role of emergency notification systems and the importance of precise targeting when issuing alerts. While the vast majority of Warren County residents were not directly impacted by the specific incident, the widespread nature of the alert led many to question the nature of the emergency and their proximity to it.

Deerfield Township Fire and Rescue confirmed that the emergency alert was indeed for the Woodfield neighborhood within Deerfield Township, but did not provide further details on the nature of the incident itself. Residents within the Woodfield development were advised to shelter in place until further notice.

How Warren County Residents Receive Alerts:

Warren County utilizes several systems to keep its residents informed during emergencies, primarily through its CodeRED Emergency Notification System and AlertSense. These platforms allow emergency services to disseminate critical information rapidly via:

Phone Calls: Both landlines and registered mobile phones can receive automated calls with recorded messages.

Text Messages (SMS): Subscribers can receive text alerts directly to their mobile devices.

Email: Emergency notifications can also be sent to registered email addresses.

Residents are strongly encouraged to sign up for these free services to ensure they receive timely and accurate information during various emergencies, including severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons, and evacuation notices. The systems allow users to customize their preferred contact methods and geographical areas for alerts.

In addition to these digital platforms, Warren County also employs:

Outdoor Warning Sirens: These sirens are primarily designed to alert individuals who are outdoors during tornado warnings and are not intended to be heard inside structures.

NOAA Weather Radios: Residents are encouraged to have and program NOAA weather radios for real-time weather alerts.

Social Media: The Warren County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) maintains active accounts on platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) to provide updates during incidents.

While today's incident regarding the "unintended areas" alert was quickly addressed by authorities, it serves as a reminder of the vigilance required in managing such critical communication tools. For Warren County residents, it underscores the importance of being registered with the official emergency alert systems to ensure they receive the most accurate and targeted information when it matters most.