The state of Utah announced Monday that the wireless emergency alert for motorists entering Utah has been cancelled and they extended an apology to areas of the state, including the Uintah Basin, where the alerts did not work as intended. Motorists will still be informed of the opportunity to fill out the travel declaration as they enter the state by certain roadways but it will be through signage on the roads directing them to entry.utah.gov rather than a wireless alert. Joe Dougherty, Public Information Officer for the Division of Emergency Management, explained that the messages in some areas alerted much farther than intended, particularly in the Uintah Basin, St. George area, and Oneida County, Idaho. Dougherty apologized to the residents in those areas that received multiple texts, some receiving over 15 alerts in a day. Utah was the first state to try the alert system for this purpose and Dougherty said that in just a few days the state has received thousands of responses that have proved helpful in gathering data as the battle against COVID-19 continues.
