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Knox County to Test New Emergency Alert System on Monday
Residents may receive a test alert on their phones, but no action is required.
Published on Mar. 7, 2026
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Knox County will conduct a live test of its new Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 9. The new system allows emergency officials to send Wireless Emergency Alerts directly to cell phones, as well as Emergency Alert System messages to radio and television. Galesburg Fire Chief Randy Hovind and Deputy Chief Brock Schmitt will preview the system on WGIL's morning news prior to the test.
Why it matters
IPAWS provides a more robust emergency alert system for Knox County residents, allowing officials to quickly disseminate critical, time-sensitive information like evacuation orders or shelter-in-place instructions during severe, life-threatening events. The new system replaces the previous CodeRED alert system.
The details
The test alert will be clearly marked as a test, and residents who receive it do not need to take any action. Some residents may not receive the test message at all, as many mobile devices are configured to skip test alerts by default. However, this does not mean their phones are broken or that they won't receive actual emergency alerts in the future. IPAWS alerts are targeted to individuals in the immediate vicinity of a danger, which officials say will help avoid alert fatigue for those not affected by a specific emergency.
- The IPAWS test will take place at 10 a.m. on Monday, March 9, 2026.
- Hovind and Schmitt will preview the new system on WGIL's morning news at 8:10 a.m. on Monday, March 9, 2026.
The players
Randy Hovind
Galesburg Fire Chief and Knox County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator.
Brock Schmitt
Galesburg Fire Department Deputy Chief.
IPAWS
The Integrated Public Alert & Warning System, a FEMA system that allows emergency management officials to send Wireless Emergency Alerts directly to cell phones, as well as Emergency Alert System messages to radio and television.
CodeRED
The previous emergency alert system used in Knox County, which is being replaced by IPAWS.
What they’re saying
“Our top priority is the safety of our residents. Implementing IPAWS gives us the ability to provide critical, time-sensitive information, such as evacuation orders, flash flood warnings, or shelter-in-place instructions, directly to your phone. When time matters most, this technology will save lives.”
— Randy Hovind, Galesburg Fire Chief and Knox County Emergency Management Agency Coordinator (WGIL)
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.
The takeaway
The implementation of the new IPAWS emergency alert system in Knox County provides residents with a more robust and targeted way to receive critical, time-sensitive information during severe, life-threatening events, helping to improve public safety and emergency preparedness in the region.
