The City of Yellowknife has launched a new emergency email notification system and is encouraging residents to sign up.
The city’s email system is not the same as NWT Alert, the territorial government system that alerts people to emergencies via cell phone, television and radio, and which also distributes alerts through an app called Alertable (more on this further down).
Yellowknife’s system is instead a form of e-newsletter.
“This system will send residents an email with emergency updates when they occur, and will provide information on where people can go to get more details,” explained the city in a news release on Friday.
To sign-up, visit the city’s website. Under the Alerts box, select City of Yellowknife Emergency Email Notifications.
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For the keeners who just can’t get enough of municipal updates, you can also subscribe to emails about community events, council meetings, and things like roads and development permits, all in one go.
Consider downloading Alertable
Meanwhile, over at the GNWT, public servants hope residents will download the Alertable app to receive information about “public safety, weather risks, major emergencies, evacuations, and other threats.”
After you download the app, you can enter as many locations for notifications as you’d like, as well as filter future alerts by type and severity. Notifications can also arrive via text or email, and they can be sent to landlines.
The Town of Fort Smith is using Alertable to share information this year. Last week, the town tested the system.
When there is critical information that needs to be shared, the GNWT uses what are called broadcast intrusive alerts – alerts pushed through television, radio, and compatible wireless devices like cellphones.
People can’t opt out of receiving these alerts. You likely got a test one on Wednesday morning.
