Riley County Offers Free Emergency Alert System to Residents
RILEY COUNTY, Kan. — Riley County officials are encouraging residents to sign up for Everbridge, a free emergency notification system that delivers critical alerts directly to phones, email and text messages during emergencies.
The communication system allows police, fire departments, emergency management and the National Weather Service to quickly share information about severe weather, road closures, missing persons and evacuation orders across Northeast Kansas.
"Everbridge helps us quickly share critical information in various situations, such as severe weather, unexpected road closures, missing persons, and evacuations," according to the county's Emergency Management Department.
The service is funded by the Northeast Regional Homeland Security Council and requires no cost to users. Residents can customize their alert preferences, choosing which types of notifications to receive and selecting multiple locations for coverage.
"For example, if you live in one county and work in another, you can receive alerts for both places," the county's website states.
The system protects user data privacy, with information secured and not shared with third parties. Residents can modify their contact information and notification preferences at any time through their online accounts.
Twelve counties in Northeast Kansas participate in the Everbridge network: Chase, Coffey, Douglas, Franklin, Geary, Linn, Lyon, Marshall, Morris, Osage, Pottawatomie and Riley counties.
The emergency notification system complements Riley County's existing warning infrastructure, which includes strategically placed outdoor sirens and NOAA weather radio alerts.
Outdoor sirens are activated for strong winds of 70 mph or greater, hail at least 1 inch in diameter, tornado rotation indicated on radar or by storm spotters, and non-weather emergencies such as hazardous material incidents that pose threats to people outdoors.
Officials emphasize that outdoor sirens are designed to alert people outside to seek shelter immediately and gather additional information from indoor sources.
Residents can register for Everbridge alerts online or contact the Emergency Management Department at 785-537-6333 during business hours for assistance. The county also recommends residents invest in NOAA all-hazards radios, which provide constant weather updates and emergency alerts for people indoors.
For life-threatening emergencies requiring immediate response from police, fire or medical services, officials remind residents to call 911 rather than using the information system.