Mayor urges registration for Warn Central Texas ahead of April 2 statewide alert test
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Summary
City and Travis County officials urged residents to register for Warn Central Texas and explained what to expect during a statewide emergency-alert drill scheduled for Thursday, April 2, citing coordination across 23 jurisdictions and warning that multiple alerts and alert fatigue are possible.
The mayor of Austin urged residents to register for Warn Central Texas and prepare for a statewide emergency‑alert drill set for Thursday, April 2, saying the test could be life‑saving. “Esto puede salvar sus vidas y salvar la vida de sus seres queridos,” the mayor said in Spanish, emphasizing the need for people to sign up to receive official messages.
Héctor Nieto, public information officer for Travis County, said the county is coordinating with 23 smaller cities and other government partners and that the exercise will test subscription‑based and public alert channels across the region. “La cosa más crítica que podemos hacer es alertar a nuestra a la comunidad, si hay una amenaza,” Nieto said, describing the primary goal as timely notification.
Why the test matters: City and county officials said the drill is intended to prevent the kinds of system failures that in the past have left people without critical information. Officials asked local news outlets and social‑media users to help spread the registration link so that residents will receive official alerts rather than relying on unverified posts.
How the alerts work: Officials said some Warn Central Texas messages require residents to subscribe; other public alerts do not. Nieto warned that people in some areas may receive multiple alerts from different jurisdictions during the test and acknowledged that alert fatigue leads some residents to opt out of receiving messages. The briefing included practical advice for residents who do not receive smartphone alerts: confirm subscription status, check email and text settings, and consider alternative devices such as NOAA weather radios.
Schedule and coordination: Nieto said the county will begin test activity in Manor at about 11:30 a.m. and that alerts may arrive at different times in different neighborhoods. He urged people who do not receive a test alert to contact county personnel who will be available to answer questions.
What officials asked of the public: Register at the Warn Central Texas site (official name given in the briefing as Warn Central Texas; the transcript contained multiple phonetic spellings), follow official city and county channels, and share the information so fewer people are left without alerts during an actual emergency.
The briefing concluded with a request that media partners help disseminate the registration message and reminders that participation in the drill helps ensure systems function when lives are at stake.
