North Texas host cities are expanding World Cup emergency alerts, with Arlington and Frisco preparing to use the federal IPAWS system before tournament events begin.
Arlington officials said they can now send emergency warnings directly to cell phones near “Dallas Stadium.” The city received Federal Emergency Management Agency approval in recent weeks.
FEMA’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning System can reach phones in a defined area if users keep alerts enabled.
Arlington Emergency Management Administrator Irish Hancock said the city needed the tool because of the World Cup’s scale and expected crowds.
“We have nine Super Bowls, and it’s over the course of four weeks,” Hancock said. The first Arlington match is scheduled for June 14.
Frisco has also signed up for IPAWS before the tournament. The city will host the Swedish national team’s base camp.
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Frisco Assistant Fire Chief Kelly Kistner said officials could target alerts around Toyota Stadium if an emergency develops.
University at Albany researcher Jeannette Sutton said IPAWS can reach visitors who are not registered for local alert systems.
Officials urged residents and visitors to keep emergency alerts active on their phones. IPAWS currently supports English and Spanish, while federal rules call for more languages over time.
