Warsaw Launches New Alert System
December 17, 2019 at 2:19 a.m.
By Staff Report-
Residents and businesses may register for alerts of their choice by visiting warsaw.in.gov/alerts.
At this time, alert categories include:
• Emergency alerts.
• Road closure and restriction notices.
• Trash route notices.
• National Weather Service (NOAA) weather warnings.
• Parks and Recreation event notices.
• Warsaw Police Department news releases.
• Wastewater utility notices.
Alerts may be received via text message, voice call, email or a combination of the three methods. Subscribers may choose their preferred types of notifications per category during the registration process.
Residents are encouraged to add their physical address on Step 2 of the registration process, according to a news release from the city. By registering an address, it allows for more targeted messages about correct trash days and emergencies affecting their specific property. If an address is provided, trash route notices will be received for only that property’s trash day. Providing an address will also allow city officials to alert users with a home or business in a specific location of an emergency affecting their property or neighborhood. For example, in the event of a gas leak that affects only a small portion of the city, alerts may be sent to users with a registered address within several blocks of the identified leak.
Following registration, each user will receive an email to validate their account and set a personal password. This allows each individual to make updates to their preferences or to register for additional categories in the future.
Residents and businesses are also encouraged to download the free CivicReady AlertMe mobile app, the release states. This mobile app will allow for alerts to be sent to users located in a specific area based on their phone GPS location, rather than the address registered to their account. This will provide timely safety or emergency alerts to individuals who are at their jobs, out shopping and dining or other times they are away from home.
“We are eager to roll out this alert system, because it will change how quickly and efficiently the city can communicate with residents in the greater Warsaw community about a number of things, including emergencies and day-to-day information,” said Staci Young, assistant to Mayor Joe Thallemer. “Not only can we push information out to everyone in a matter of minutes, we can also target information to the appropriate individuals or locations affected, so that they only see the information that is most important to them.”
For those who are non-English speaking, the CivicReady system supports 63 languages. It is capable of sending 12,000 voice calls per minute and 60,000 text messages per minute.
Residents who do not use texting or email may call the Warsaw mayor’s office at 574-372-9595 to register for voice calls that will read the alert over a recorded phone message. Residents are encouraged to sign up elder family members or encourage them to call the mayor’s office to register for these calls.
“The success of this system will depend on residents and businesses taking a moment to register for alerts, so that when an emergency or important event happens, they will be prepared and informed,” Young said.
For questions or assistance signing up for alerts, individuals and businesses may call the mayor’s office at 574-372-9595 or email [email protected].
Residents and businesses may register for alerts of their choice by visiting warsaw.in.gov/alerts.
At this time, alert categories include:
• Emergency alerts.
• Road closure and restriction notices.
• Trash route notices.
• National Weather Service (NOAA) weather warnings.
• Parks and Recreation event notices.
• Warsaw Police Department news releases.
• Wastewater utility notices.
Alerts may be received via text message, voice call, email or a combination of the three methods. Subscribers may choose their preferred types of notifications per category during the registration process.
Residents are encouraged to add their physical address on Step 2 of the registration process, according to a news release from the city. By registering an address, it allows for more targeted messages about correct trash days and emergencies affecting their specific property. If an address is provided, trash route notices will be received for only that property’s trash day. Providing an address will also allow city officials to alert users with a home or business in a specific location of an emergency affecting their property or neighborhood. For example, in the event of a gas leak that affects only a small portion of the city, alerts may be sent to users with a registered address within several blocks of the identified leak.
Following registration, each user will receive an email to validate their account and set a personal password. This allows each individual to make updates to their preferences or to register for additional categories in the future.
Residents and businesses are also encouraged to download the free CivicReady AlertMe mobile app, the release states. This mobile app will allow for alerts to be sent to users located in a specific area based on their phone GPS location, rather than the address registered to their account. This will provide timely safety or emergency alerts to individuals who are at their jobs, out shopping and dining or other times they are away from home.
“We are eager to roll out this alert system, because it will change how quickly and efficiently the city can communicate with residents in the greater Warsaw community about a number of things, including emergencies and day-to-day information,” said Staci Young, assistant to Mayor Joe Thallemer. “Not only can we push information out to everyone in a matter of minutes, we can also target information to the appropriate individuals or locations affected, so that they only see the information that is most important to them.”
For those who are non-English speaking, the CivicReady system supports 63 languages. It is capable of sending 12,000 voice calls per minute and 60,000 text messages per minute.
Residents who do not use texting or email may call the Warsaw mayor’s office at 574-372-9595 to register for voice calls that will read the alert over a recorded phone message. Residents are encouraged to sign up elder family members or encourage them to call the mayor’s office to register for these calls.
“The success of this system will depend on residents and businesses taking a moment to register for alerts, so that when an emergency or important event happens, they will be prepared and informed,” Young said.
For questions or assistance signing up for alerts, individuals and businesses may call the mayor’s office at 574-372-9595 or email [email protected].
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092