Rockwall, TX – March 12, 2026 – The Rockwall County Office of Emergency Management will participate in a statewide emergency alert drill on Thursday, April 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.
During the drill, Rockwall County will send a test message through its emergency alert systems, including the Nixle Emergency Alert System and the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). Residents may receive a test notification on their mobile phones, television, radio, or other alert platforms.
The exercise is part of a statewide test organized by the Texas Division of Emergency Management to allow cities, counties, school districts, universities, law enforcement agencies, and other emergency management organizations to test their alerting systems.
How Rockwall County Sends Emergency Alerts
The Rockwall County Office of Emergency Management uses two primary systems to communicate emergency information to the public.
Nixle Emergency Alerts
Residents can sign up for Nixle to receive text messages about emergency alerts, road closures, and other important public safety information.
To register, text RCOEM to 888777.
Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)
IPAWS allows emergency managers to send a single message across multiple communication platforms, including:
- NOAA Weather Radios
- Emergency Alert System (television and radio broadcasts)
- Wireless Emergency Alerts sent to cell phones
- Internet-based services
The Rockwall County Office of Emergency Management serves as the IPAWS alerting authority for Rockwall County and the cities within the county. The system can be used to send alerts for most emergency situations, with the exception of AMBER Alerts and weather alerts, which are issued by the state and the National Weather Service.
Understanding Wireless Emergency Alerts
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are the notifications many people recognize from AMBER Alerts received on their mobile phones.
These alerts are broadcast from cell towers rather than sent directly to individual phones. Because of this, the alert a person receives may depend on which tower their phone is connected to at the time.
For example, a resident in Royse City could receive alerts from Rockwall County, a neighboring county, or both depending on which cell tower is serving their phone.
Test Messages Residents May See
As part of the drill, Rockwall County plans to send the following test messages.
Nixle Test Message
“Test – This is a test of the Rockwall County Emergency Management Nixle Emergency Alert System. More details at facebook.com/rcemo – Test.”
Wireless Emergency Alert Message
“Test: Rockwall County Emergency Management is testing our emergency alert system. Test.”
These alerts are only part of a scheduled test and do not indicate an actual emergency.
Questions
Residents with questions about the drill may contact the Rockwall County Office of Emergency Management at: emergencymanagement@rockwallcountytexas.com
Submitted by Jim Barto, Rockwall County Public Information Officer
