The Columbia Paper is reporting Columbia County is changing its mass emergency alert system. All disaster, weather-related and other emergency warnings and alerts for county residents are currently provided by the Code Red system. Beginning August 29, all emergency alerts and notifications for tornadoes, earthquakes, severe storms and other weather, natural or man-made disaster and important emergency warnings and information will be provided by NY Alert. County 911 Director Rob Lopez and Emergency Management Director David Harrison, Jr., recommended the change to the county Board of Supervisors. According to Lopez and Harrison, the state has greatly improved its system, making it more reliable. The change will save the county more than $32,000 every year, and it will provide county residents with additional emergency and informational alert options. Hard-lined phones will begin to receive the alerts automatically August 29. For cell phone and email notifications, residents must go to the New York State NY Alert website and register for a free account. Read the full story in The Columbia Paper.