05/22/2026
Marion County Marks Two Years Since 2024 Storms With Launch of New Emergency Notification System
Marion County — As the county marks the two-year anniversary of the May 26, 2024, severe storms and tornadoes, officials are announcing the launch of the new Regroup Mass Notification System, a major upgrade to local emergency communications.
The 2024 storms brought damaging winds, tornado activity, and widespread outages across the region. Emergency responders worked for several days to clear debris, restore access, and assist affected residents. The anniversary underscores the importance of timely communication during fast-moving emergencies.
The new Regroup system delivers alerts through text message, email, and voice call, providing residents with fast, reliable updates during severe weather, hazardous incidents, road closures, missing persons cases, and other critical events.
“This system represents a major improvement in how we communicate during emergencies,” said Melissa Penn, Director of Emergency Management. “It ensures residents have access to timely, and potentially life-saving information.”
Officials emphasize that Regroup does not replace NOAA weather radios, which remain essential during power outages or cellular disruptions. Instead, the system adds another layer of protection by giving residents multiple ways to receive alerts.
WHY MULTIPLE EMERGENCY ALERT METHODS MATTER
• NOAA weather radios remain the most reliable alert source during severe weather, especially when power or cell service is disrupted.
• Weather radios work independently of cellular networks, making them vital for overnight storms or widespread outages.
• The Regroup Mass Notification System is designed to supplement, not replace, weather radios.
• Regroup adds text, email, and voice call alerts, giving residents more ways to receive warnings.
• Using multiple alert methods increases the chance of receiving timely, and potentially life-saving information.
• Officials recommend every household maintain both a weather radio and a digital alert option.
Registration is free, takes only a few minutes, and allows residents to customize the types of alerts they want to receive. All information is securely stored and used solely for public safety communication.
Residents can register at: https://embeds.regroupcloud.com/orgs/MarionCountyAR/channels/emergency-communications/signup_embed
If you encounter any problems during the registration process, please contact the Marion County Office of Emergency Management at 870-449-5800 for assistance and troubleshooting.
