Less than a week after the Sunshine Coast Regional District (SCRD) called off its state of local emergency, it announced the launch of a new emergency alert system for the Coast.
Those who sign up for the alerts can choose to receive location-based messages through the Voyent Alert app by text message, voice call or email. Messages will be sent for critical and emergency events such as fires, flooding, and earthquakes and the information can include maps, images, messages and website links. Users can subscribe for messages about multiple locations.
“Enhancing our communications with this new alert system allows the public to select various ways to receive direct and timely information from the SCRD,” Matt Treit, manager of protective services, said in a Dec. 6 press release. “These last few weeks have shown us the importance of keeping our community informed on emergency incidents. Moving forward, this system will supplement current communications tools used to notify residents of events such as boil water advisories, evacuation alerts and evacuation orders.”
Treit encourages residents to sign up for the system this week and the press release notes SCRD staff can help assist with registration by phone at 604-885-6887 or over email at emergency.program@scrd.ca. More information and a registration tutorial video can be found at www.scrd.ca/alert-system and smartphone users can download the Voyent Alert App from Apple or Google Play app stores.
“Signing up for alerts along with having an emergency kit and plan, is the key to better preparing ourselves and our families for emergencies,” Treit said.
The alert system, Voyent Alert!, is used by a number of other local governments in B.C., including the Regional District of Nanaimo, the City of Kamloops and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District.
