"This new rapid enrollment feature means people who want to register for the system don't need access to the Internet or e-mail to sign up for alerts," said Williams. "Signing up for emergency alerts is as easy as using a cell phone -- and it can really pay off when there is any kind of emergency in your neighborhood."
DC Text Alert allows citizens to receive emergency messages about an event on any text-capable device -- cell phone, computer -mail, pagers, and PDAs. Residents can customize their alert preferences by geographical area, such as by neighborhood or school, and by type of alerts, such as weather, traffic, and/or major emergencies by visiting an Alert DC account. Currently, 23,000 individuals have registered for the system, which was inaugurated in June 2004.
The text alert system is part of Alert DC, the city's four-part citizen emergency notification system. In addition to text alert, the system also features DC Voice Alert, which allows emergency managers to notify citizens by telephone of an actual or impending incident that may require them to take some protective action such as evacuate or shelter-in-place. Emergency managers can select very precise geographic areas and call the phones in that area to deliver emergency instructions. Instructions can be delivered in multiple languages and formatted for devices for the hearing impaired. Home and business lines are automatically registered.
In addition to text alert and voice alert features, the system also includes the Emergency Information Center (EIC) Web site, a cross-agency portal for emergency preparedness information that also serves as the official D.C. government online information source during an emergency or disaster. During non-emergency conditions, the EIC portal provides links to DC and national sites that have preparedness information. During emergencies, the site provides immediate information about closures and other conditions pertaining to the emergency including location specific information in both text and mapping format.
