Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Emergency Management Agency has implemented its new public alert and warning system, the agency announced Monday.

The system allows for public safety agencies to transmit emergency information — from weather warnings to 911 outages to civil emergencies to shelter in place or evacuation orders — over the radio, television, electronic billboards and by cellphone.

Severe weather alerts originate from the National Weather Service. Other system alerts will originate from Mahoning County EMA with real time review by Ohio EMA and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The system will be tested Wednesday during a statewide tornado drill.

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