BUCKHANNON — The Upshur County Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management is encouraging all residents and visitors to the area to sign up for the county’s emergency notification alerting system — especially during the 80th annual West Virginia Strawberry Festival.

Important public service information, including traffic and weather-related details, will be shared via the Wireless Emergency Notification System, or WENS. To sign up, simply text UpshurCoWVAlerts to 69310 or visit http://entry.inspironlogistics.com/upshur_wv/wens.cfm.

Messages can be issued via landline or wireless phone, text messaging, email, TDD/TTY and social media when an urgent county alert needs to be communicated. Anyone with questions may reach the DHSEM Office by emailing dhsem@upshurcounty.org or calling 304-472-4983.

The 80th annual West Virginia Strawberry Festival takes place May 14-22 and more information can be found here.