diff --git a/SkyControl.py b/SkyControl.py
index 4ef8a20..aa9f351 100644
--- a/SkyControl.py
+++ b/SkyControl.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/python3
 
 """
-SkyControl.py v0.5.1 by Mason Nelson
+SkyControl.py v0.5.3 by Mason Nelson
 ==================================
 A Control Script for SkywarnPlus
 
diff --git a/SkyDescribe.py b/SkyDescribe.py
index 56b5bb1..c0f9c4e 100644
--- a/SkyDescribe.py
+++ b/SkyDescribe.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/python3
 
 """
-SkyDescribe.py v0.5.1 by Mason Nelson
+SkyDescribe.py v0.5.3 by Mason Nelson
 ==================================================
 Text to Speech conversion for Weather Descriptions
 
diff --git a/SkywarnPlus.py b/SkywarnPlus.py
index a657bd3..3ccb5cc 100644
--- a/SkywarnPlus.py
+++ b/SkywarnPlus.py
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 #!/usr/bin/python3
 
 """
-SkywarnPlus.py v0.5.1 by Mason Nelson
+SkywarnPlus.py v0.5.3 by Mason Nelson
 ===============================================================================
 SkywarnPlus is a utility that retrieves severe weather alerts from the National 
 Weather Service and integrates these alerts with an Asterisk/app_rpt based 
@@ -1520,9 +1520,15 @@ def main():
     supermon_compat_enabled = config["DEV"].get("SupermonCompat", True)
     say_alerts_changed = config["Alerting"].get("SayAlertsChanged", True)
 
-    # If data file does not exist, assume this is the first run and initialize CT/ID/Tailmessage files if enabled
+    # Load previous alert data to compare changes
+    state = load_state()
+    last_alerts = state["last_alerts"]
+
+    # If data file does not exist, assume this is the first run and initialize data file and CT/ID/Tailmessage files if enabled
     if not os.path.isfile(DATA_FILE):
         LOGGER.info("Data file does not exist, assuming first run.")
+        LOGGER.info("Initializing data file")
+        save_state(state)
         if enable_ct_auto_change:
             LOGGER.info("Initializing CT files")
             change_ct("NORMAL")
@@ -1534,10 +1540,6 @@ def main():
             empty_alerts = OrderedDict()
             build_tailmessage(empty_alerts)
 
-    # Load previous alert data to compare changes
-    state = load_state()
-    last_alerts = state["last_alerts"]
-
     # Fetch new alert data
     alerts = get_alerts(COUNTY_CODES)
 
diff --git a/config.yaml b/config.yaml
index a37a556..e6e8c83 100644
--- a/config.yaml
+++ b/config.yaml
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# SkywarnPlus v0.5.1 Configuration File
+# SkywarnPlus v0.5.3 Configuration File
 # Author: Mason Nelson (N5LSN/WRKF394)
 # Please edit this file according to your specific requirements.