The Township of Esquimalt is launching a notification system that will alert people about emergency situations throughout the municipality.
The service, called Esquimalt Alert, will send out notifications via the Voyent Alert! mobile app, text message, telephone call or email. The alerts will include emergency events, including tsunamis, floods, earthquakes, hazardous spills, significant fire or police incidents, and other large-scale incidents.
There will also be an option to sign up for more general notices including snow removal advisories, planned maintenance, water advisories, traffic advisories and pool closures.
Residents, workers, businesses and visitors can all sign up for EsquimaltAlert. People can subscribe through the Voyent Alert! mobile app or online. They can then choose the devices they want to receive the alerts on and what topics they want to receive notices about.
“We’re excited to offer such a useful service to our residents and businesses,” Esquimalt Mayor Barbara Desjardins said in a statement. ”We want to ensure that the people who live and work in Esquimalt have the opportunity to receive critical information when they need it most.”
The system is launching at 11 a.m. on Sept. 28. There will be a trial period for the first six months while the township evaluates what topics resonate with users, and whether residents are using the system. The topics will be adjusted to reflect community interest and demand.
People who are interested in subscribing on Sept. 28 can sign up for their choice of notifications from their home computer, phone, or on location at the Esquimalt Fire Department open house running from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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