SWEETWATER-The City of Sweetwater is starting use of its new Delta Alert notification system.

The system will send an automated message to participants' phone numbers or e-mails warning citizens of upcoming weather dangers, traffic closures, missing person alerts and more. Residents included in the alert system will receive a free automated message on their home phone line, as filed with the Monroe County Emergency 9-1-1 system starting this coming week.

If you have a home phone number at your residence inside Sweetwater's city limits, you will automatically be included in this system. You may opt out of receiving any messages by calling City Hall at 423-337-6979.

If you have a cell phone number or email address that you would like to receive the alerts on, you will need to sign up via the website at www.deltalert.com, which is linked from the city's website at www.sweetwatertn.net or the city's Facebook page. You must have an e-mail address to log into the system. You will create a password and enter what phone numbers and e-mails you would like to be contacted on. You also have the option to opt-out of the system entirely or opt-out of any announcement that is not coded as an emergency.

The City of Sweetwater may utilize the system to notify citizens of both emergency and non-emergency events, some examples may include:

Emergency messages:

While the system was originally purchased for citizens inside the city limits, right now there is enough space in the system for persons just outside the city limits to sign up for the free alerts, City Recorder Jessica Morgan said.