EMA launches new mobile alerting system
Apr. 24—There's a new mobile alerting system for Cullman County residents who want to receive locally tailored weather and public safety notifications directly on their smart phones.
The new system, furnished through the Everbridge mass notification platform, replaces the previous mobile alert system that had enrolled more than 10,000 county residents, business and organizations. Those enrollments, though, will not carry over to the new service, meaning that all residents and organizations must complete a new enrollment in order to receive alerts through the new system.
"We believe that this will be a better service for the citizens of Cullman County," said Cullman Emergency Management Agency director Tim Sartin, noting that the new service, depending on users' preferences, can do more than sound an early alarm about the weather.
"It does weather, but it also does traffic alerts, any kind of evacuation notices, flood notices, public safety notice," he said. "It's a complete notification system."
The opt-in service can be configured by the user to send alerts that appear not only as pop-up notifications on smart phones, but also as text messages, email messages, and even automated phone calls. Users can also specify whether they'd prefer to receive alerts around the clock, or only during the day and early evening.
To enroll in the new service, visit member.everbridge.net/355009111785876/login online, or visit the Cullman EMA website (co.cullman.al.us/ema/index.html) and select the "Notification System" banner link at the top of the page. EMA also offers a scannable QR code on its Facebook page that will direct camera-enabled smart phones and tablets to the same enrollment link.
Benjamin Bullard can be reached by phone at 256-734-2131 ext. 234.
