The agency has launched a new notification system called AlertSense. The system, which is intended to be used for emergency alerts as well as nonemergency incidents, will notify residents via text message, email or voicemail about incidents that may have significant impacts on lives.
It replaces an older system called Nixle.
“With this new system there are more capabilities,” director Tim England said.
Emergency alerts could be related to specific hazards that require some kind of action to be taken, such as evacuation, shelter in place and boil water orders. Nonemergency alerts could include significant transportation problems with prolonged impacts or significant ongoing police or fire activity.
“Our No.1 concern is keeping our people safe,” England said.
While the new system is geared toward informing residents, England said it can also warn anyone in the county by sending a message to cellphone towers in the area and relying the message to travelers in Boyd County.
“Even if they are not from here, they can still receive the warning,” England said.
One of the features England is looking forward to in the new system is the capacity of sending out notifications to specific areas. England said during the years of using the old notification system, he had received complaints about residents getting warnings that did not apply to them.
“With this system we just draw a circle around the affected area, and the system will only notify people in it,” England said.
Another advantage is internal messaging to the three agencies in Boyd County.
“With this we can message with the Ashland Police Department and Boyd County EMS,” England said.
Residents interested in AlertSense can subscribe to the system by visiting boydcoem.net. When submitting information for enrollment, use a complete physical address and not a post office box, because the address is used to send alerts specific to the area.
Once enrolled, subscribers may also download the myAlerts App from AlertSense. Subscribers can find the app in the Google Play or Apple App Store. The app allows subscribers to receive public, weather and community alerts based on the phone’s location. The app is free and can receive alerts from other agencies that use AlertSense while traveling.
“We are excited to use it and keep everyone informed,” England said.
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©2016 The Daily Independent (Ashland, Ky.)
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