The city renamed its mass notification system to better represent what it can do.
Siloam Alert replaces the more general Blackboard Connect.
"Blackboard Connect really does not depict what the product does for the city," said Greg Neely, public safety director.
Blackboard Connect is used by schools throughout the country, and, with that name for the city's notification system, it might lead people to think it's about school, explained Holland Hayden, city communication manager.
Siloam Alert will soon announce itself with a message from Mayor John Turner, Hayden said.
The mass notification system can call land line or cell phones. The call can include a recorded voice message or a text-to-speech message. This is where someone types in a message into the system, and the message is received as a computer voice.
The system also can send out messages via email and text.
"Redundancy is a good thing," Hayden said. When she sends out alerts, she tries to send them out every way possible, including voice, email and text messages.
It has been used for severe weather alerts such as tornado warnings, but it can also be used to notify residents of a water main break in a specific area of the city.
"It's more than just emergency alerts," Hayden said. It's "a way to stay connected with the city."
In the event of a water main break, Hayden said she can use the system software to draw a map and select a specific area to send a message with information about the break.
The city plans to market the full capability of what the system can do, Neely said.
He explained that in order to receive alerts people must be signed up to receive them. Sign up by going to the city's website at www.siloamsprings.com. Hayden also said she can help people sign up by calling her at 479-238-0940. She plans to offer mass signups for companies.
Currently, about 4,400 people are signed up to receive alerts.
Residents with land lines were automatically signed up when the city started using the system in 2012. But this doesn't mean that alerts will be sent to their cell phone or email automatically. People still need to sign up to receive cell phone, text or email alerts.
Anyone can sign up to receive the alerts, not just residents of Siloam Springs.
Neely explained that someone who is signed up might be shopping in Fayetteville when severe weather hits and an alert is issued. While that person might not be in the path of the storm, family, friends and neighbors back home who are might be unaware, and the person could notify them.
"We want our citizens to be well informed and well connected," Neely said. And it's a way for others to look out for their neighbors.
Bryan Austin, a lieutenant for Siloam Springs Police Department and director of Emergency Management for the city, comes to the city's Emergency Operations Center in the event of severe weather. Austin tracks the weather, listens to storm spotters and determines when to activate the tornado sirens. Austin can send messages using the alert system when Hayden is not available.
Austin explained that the alert system could be used for Amber Alerts, Silver Alerts or to tell people to look out for someone.
"The usages are unlimited really," Austin said.
General News on 04/02/2014