The Augusta Emergency Management Agency has transitioned to a new system to alert residents about severe weather.
The system from Everbridge is replacing the Code Red system the department had been using.
“The contract with Code Red was coming to an end, we put the system out for bid and Everbridge was the system that the EMA decided to go with,” said Public Information Officer Jason DeHart. “The reach that we’re getting, just by making the conversion is immense, compared to where we were with Code Red.”
DeHart said the system can send alerts in real-time via text message, phone call or email. But, along with information about the event, this system will provide instructions on what to do to be safe. For example, a tornado warning would also provide instructions to get to a low place if you are outside or get into an internal room and away from windows if you are in your home.
Work on transferring to the new system began in late 2021. The new system became fully operative a month ago.
DeHart said the department is exploring ways to send other notifications in addition to severe weather events.
“An imminent public threat of sorts. We could target that neighborhood and send out a message via the Everbridge. EMA could send out a notice to those people who have addresses registered in that area, alerting them about a public threat. That’s something that the department is exploring, we’re only on the starting line with that,” he said.
To register for the new system, go to: https://bit.ly/SevereAlert There is also an app that can be downloaded.
Anyone who was registered with Code Red does not need to register with Everbridge. DeHart said those registrations were migrated during the transition to the new system.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
