AUSTIN, Texas — There’s no shortage of emergency alerts going out to residents in Central Texas, but a new system is hoping to make it easier for the city of Austin to send out alerts.

Earlier this month, the city of Austin started the process of becoming a FEMA-approved Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) Alerting Authority. This would allow the city to send emergency alerts to the public without requiring a subscription to the service.

IPAWS uses Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), sent out to cellphones in a geotargeted area, and Emergency Alert System (EAS) messages to televisions and radio stations.

Before this distinction, only counties could be IPAWS alerting authorities. That meant the city of Austin would have to contact emergency management staff in each county bef

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