Reverse 911 system offers mobile alerts on emergencies

Updates on everything from natural disasters to hazardous spills in Southern Nevada are available through mobile phones and email under a new system announced Monday.

An emergency alert system website launched at https://sonevada.onthealert.com/ allows people to register their mobile phones and email addresses for alerts about emergencies anywhere in Clark County.

The new system, launched by the cities of Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson with Clark County, is an expansion of the existing Reverse 911 system, which uses technology to call people on land lines.

Officials from those communities detailed the new program during a news conference at Las Vegas City Hall.

The entire Reverse 911 system, including the newly added mobile features, operate at a cost of about $25,000 per year and is paid for through federal grants.

The mobile updates will cover extreme temperatures, winter storms, flash floods, high winds, earthquakes, hazardous material spills and air quality advisories.

Existing television and radio emergency notifications will remain unchanged.