The Town of Fort Mill is enhancing its public safety infrastructure with the immediate launch of a new, state-of-the-art Emergency Notification System. The system is designed to provide residents, businesses, and visitors with real-time, critical alerts during various emergencies, from severe weather and major road closures to public safety threats.
The new platform replaces older communication methods, offering a more robust and faster way for the Town to reach the public directly.
The new notification system will be the primary communication tool for disseminating urgent information. Unlike weather apps, this platform will deliver localized, actionable alerts authorized directly by Fort Mill officials, including:
- Public Safety Warnings: Immediate alerts regarding threats to life and property, such as law enforcement incidents or evacuations.
- Severe Weather: Notifications for localized flooding, tornadoes, or other severe conditions impacting the town.
- Major Infrastructure Issues: Alerts concerning widespread power outages, boil water advisories, or significant water main breaks.
- Road Closures: Details on extensive and unexpected road closures affecting traffic flow and daily commutes.
Because the system uses various communication channels, including cellular and landline calls, text messages, and email, residents must actively opt-in to choose how they wish to be contacted and which addresses they want alerts for.
The decision to launch the new system was driven by the need for better connectivity and faster dissemination of information during rapidly evolving situations. While federal systems like the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are used for broad, life-threatening events, the Town’s new local platform offers more precise, neighborhood-level warnings and greater flexibility.
Officials emphasize that the contact information collected will be kept confidential and used only for sending emergency and public safety alerts.
Fort Mill’s emergency services advise that all citizens register their information this week to be fully prepared ahead of the upcoming winter storm season. Don’t wait for a crisis; sign up today to keep your family informed and safe.
How to Register:
- Online Portal: The easiest way to register is by visiting the Town’s website and follow the direct link to the Emergency Notification System page.
- Provide Information: Users can enter multiple contact numbers (home, cell, work) and email addresses.
- Customize Alerts: Residents can select which types of alerts they want to receive and specify up to five different locations (e.g., home address, child’s school, parent’s residence) for geo-targeted warnings.
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