King County Emergency Management on Wednesday officially launched an enhanced regional emergency alert system.

ALERT King County allows residents to receive important information about significant events or emergency situations via telephone, text, and email. Residents who register can enter their home and work addresses for geographic-specific alerts. Registration is free and confidential.

“We want our residents to have access to important information during an emergency that empowers them to make timely, smart decisions,” said Walt Hubbard, director of King County Emergency Management.

ALERT King County will be used to notify residents about emergency situations, threats to public health and safety, and significant impacts to major infrastructure. Most landline telephone listings are already in the system. People who use wireless phones are strongly encouraged to register.

Signing up is easy and free. Visit www.kingcounty.gov/ALERTKingCounty and click “Subscribe” to get the process started. Once registered, users can edit the information they entered when changes are needed. The system accepts multiple email accounts, phone numbers, and physical addresses.

Signing up for ALERT King County is just one important step in preparing for emergencies.

Make a plan of action for you and your family that anticipates an emergency that could last for a week or longer, where critical infrastructure such as transportation or utilities could be damaged or destroyed.

Build a kit that includes food, water, first aid supplies, and a way to communicate.

Help each other by becoming familiar with your neighbors and building a support system to help each other during an emergency.

For more information on preparing for emergencies, visit www.kingcounty.gov/prepare.