EMO pleased with city’s new alert system
The province’s Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) is applauding the City of Charlottetown for launching a citywide alert system.
Tanya Mullally, provincial emergency management co-ordinator with EMO, said Thursday the city is setting an example.
“The city has been very proactive to get this system because they’re expensive systems to purchase,’’ Mullally said.
“We would like to see other municipalities follow suit. If there is an emergency in Summerside, they would have to call us (first).’’
A city employee is now going door-to-door promoting the Charlottetown Alert System, formerly called the mass notification system.
The program is for people who live or work in the capital city who want to get phone, text and/or email notices of things like evacuation orders, severe weather or sudden road closures.
Residents can sign up for notices about when winter parking restrictions are put in place and when community events are happening. Each resident or person working in Charlottetown can choose which notifications to receive and how to receive them, such as by home, mobile or business phone, email or text message.
Coun. Terry MacLeod, chairman of the city committee responsible for the alert system, said the system is being rolled out now. As of Thursday, more than 180 people had registered.
“We’re strongly encouraging folks to sign up. There is no cost to the subscriber, (and) it’s a quick way to be notified,’’ MacLeod said. “It’s optional
and you can opt out at any time (or) change the way you receive notifications.’’
Charlottetown council agreed in February to pay Everbridge, a U.S. company, $13,000 as part of a three-year contract to set things up.
The province’s alert system is called Alert Ready and every single provincial and territorial jurisdiction is signed on to it. The system is managed by The Weather Network.
Mullally said the difference between Charlottetown’s system and the province’s is the way people receive warnings.
“They can send text messages (for example) on that system, but we have . . . what’s called a broadcast intrusive message through TV and radio,’’ Mullally said. “If we had a significant event, there are very significant parameters when we can issue an alert. It has to deal with public safety.’’
In other words, people would see a ticker message on the bottom of their TV screen or the screen would go completely red. With radio, it would be audible alarm sound.
“The difference with (the province’s) system is that you don’t sign up for this.’’
However, Mullally said they are working on something similar to what Charlottetown is doing that would allow mobile customers to receive alerts.
“It’s just not done yet, (but) you’ll be able to register your email or your cellphone number and receive public alerts.’’