Today, City Manager Sheryl Long announced an expansion of the CincyAlert system to engage with citizens if a public safety emergency occurs. City officials have internally outlined specific events that would trigger an immediate action message to registered users. This technology will proactively notify citizens who have chosen to opt-in to alerts in the event of an emergency and will also send an alert when the situation has cleared.

“The City is committed to addressing public safety through collaboration and innovation. These alerts will enable us to efficiently notify our community if there is an active threat. Accessibility is at the heart of our decision-making. These alerts, available through text, social media and even landlines, will reach our citizens in real-time. Our intent is for these alerts to reduce fear and confusion while providing accurate information.”

An Initial Action Message will inform the public of a potential or confirmed danger that could cause injury, death, or damage in a publicly accessible space. The message will include high-level information only, including the general location where an emergency has been reported, and the actions the public should take, such as staying at their current location.

An All-Clear Message will inform the public that the previously communicated emergency scene has been checked by responders and declared safe, or that the situation reported was unfounded.

“During crisis situations, a clear structure and fast, careful action become all the more important,” Mayor Aftab said. “This plan provides a thoughtful, needed framework for who should be notified and when, no matter the situation.”

“With CincyAlert and Smart911, you can be more informed and better prepared in the event of an emergency. Taking the step to register today will help 911 keep you safe in the future,” said Emergency Communications Center Director Bill Vedra.

It is important to communicate accurate information to our citizens during critical incidents. We are committed to protecting the lives of all Cincinnatians and see this as another tool to keep people safe in potentially dangerous situations. We ask everyone to sign-up by visiting www.cincyalert.org or by downloading the Smart911 app.

 

About CincyAlert

CincyAlert, powered by Smart911 and the Rave Alert product, is the official public alerting system of the City of Cincinnati. By registering for CincyAlert and Smart911, the community is more informed and better prepared in the event of an emergency. With CincyAlert, users can choose from different alert categories to keep themselves and their families safe. The system is completely customizable and allows users to choose which alerts they want to receive, and how they want to receive them. CincyAlert can notify users via text message and email for most alert categories, as well as phone call notification for urgent emergency alerts.