Bell County on Alert: What to Expect During This Morning’s Statewide Safety Test

Bell County residents are part of The Texas Division of Emergency Management's statewide test today between 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Texas Division of Emergency Management Test

Today’s test will evaluate the effectiveness and functionality of the state’s warning system. Because this is a statewide event that includes Bell County, residents need to know that they may receive multiple notifications via cellphones, television, and radio from various jurisdictions throughout the morning.

Bell County Test

In Bell County, the test is scheduled to take place between 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

Killeen: The City of Killeen has confirmed it will participate during the 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. window. This includes testing outdoor warning sirens, mobile alerts, and other notification tools.

County-Wide: Bell County uses the CodeRED Emergency Notification System. While the test is coordinated by the Texas Division of Emergency Management (TDEM), residents across the county may receive alerts through this system.

What You Will See and Hear

Mobile Alerts: You may receive Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) on your phone. These may trigger a loud tone even if your phone is set on silent.

Multiple Notifications: Because several agencies (city, county, and state) are testing simultaneously, it is normal to receive multiple alerts on your phone or see them on television and radio.

Sirens: Outdoor warning sirens in Killeen and other participating areas will be activated for approximately 60 seconds.

Important Reminders

No Action Needed: This is strictly a test. You do not need to seek shelter or call 911.

Weather Clause: In some jurisdictions, if there is actual severe weather or heavy overcast on Thursday morning, the outdoor siren portion of the test may be canceled or moved to avoid confusion with a real emergency.

If you haven't already, local officials recommend ensuring you are registered for CodeRED to receive official emergency information for Bell County in the future.

Baylor University Test

The university’s testing window is a little earlier than the statewide tests to make sure everything is working correctly.

9:30 a.m.: A Baylor Alert email will be sent from baylor@email.getrave.com.

9:45 a.m.: A Baylor Alert text message will be broadcast from short codes 226787, 67283, 78015, or 77295.

10:00 a.m.: The outdoor tornado siren testing will commence, beginning with a voice announcement followed by a 60-second siren blast.

Note: This is strictly a test. No emergency action or evacuation is required.

Understanding the Baylor Alert System

The Baylor Alert system is a multi-layered communication network that encompasses weather events and dangerous campus scenarios. Several types of warnings will go out on the Baylor campus:

Outdoor sirens and voice activation (Waco campus).

Text and audio messages to mobile devices.

Updates on the official website and social media channels (Facebook, X, and Instagram).

How to Stay Informed: Students and employees are automatically opted into the system but should verify their contact details via BearWeb or Ignite. Visitors and parents can also opt in by texting Baylor1845 (for short-term stays) or Baylor76798 (for long-term stays) to 226787.