First WEAM alert issued today by Cass County Sheriff

(Fargo, ND) -- A localized alert system was used for the first time by the Cass County Sheriff's Department today.

Sheriff Jessie Jahner joined the Jay Thomas Show on WDAY Radio to talk about road conditions and the new alert system called the Wireless Emergency Alert Message (WEAM) . Jahner says the alert system is localized, meaning it will only be sent to phones and certain devices near a specific location designated by the sender.

"It's a bit of a new technology," said Jahner when asked about the new alert system, "We will activate it in a particular area that we indicate we want it activated in. You don't have to be signed up for anything - like Cass Clay alerts or anything like that, it's simply pings phones that are in that particular area." 

Jahner says today is the first time he has used the WEAM alert system. The alert was issued for the crash that happened just outside West Fargo today. You can read about the crash by clicking here.