Emergencies can strike at any moment, and being prepared is key to ensuring your safety and the safety of your loved ones. Delaware County residents now have access to two crucial alert systems: Delco Alerts and Snow Level Alerts. These systems provide timely notifications about various emergencies and critical community news.
Delco Alerts: Your Lifeline in Emergencies
Delco Alerts is an emergency alert system designed to keep you informed about emergencies in your area. By signing up, you can receive notifications via phone calls, text messages, and/or emails based on the locations (addresses) you enter into the system. These alerts cover a wide range of emergency situations, including:
- Shelter in Place/Evacuation Notices
- Missing Persons Alerts
- Other Emergency Notifications
The system is powered by Everbridge, a company contracted by Delaware County’s Emergency Communications Department. Funded by Delaware County’s sales tax, this service costs about $25,000 per year and ensures that residents receive critical information quickly.
Categories of Notifications
When you sign up for Delco Alerts, you can choose from two main categories of notifications under “My Subscriptions” in your account profile:
- General Notifications
- Shelter in Place/Evacuation
- Missing Persons
- Other Emergency Notifications
- Weather Notifications
- High Wind Warning
- Flash Flood Warning
- Blizzard Warning
- Freezing Rain Warning
- Winter Storm Warning
- Severe Thunderstorm Warning
- Severe Thunderstorm Watch
- Tornado Warning
- Tornado Watch
General notifications are generated locally by Delaware County 9-1-1 Center personnel or the Sheriff’s Office, while weather notifications (except for Snow Level Alerts) are automatically sent out when the National Weather Service issues a watch or warning.
Snow Level Alerts: Winter Weather Notifications
Snow Level Alerts are a separate alert system specifically for winter weather. To sign up, simply text DELCOSNOW to 888777. These alerts will keep you informed about snow emergencies and other winter weather conditions in Delaware County.
Coverage and Signup Information
Please note that certain portions of Westerville, Columbus, and Dublin located in Delaware County receive their 9-1-1 service from those cities and are not eligible for Delco Alerts. However, residents in eligible areas can easily sign up for these notifications.
To sign up for Delco Alerts, visit Everbridge Signup.
How Delco Alerts Work
The Delco Alerts system is designed to be precise and effective. Emergency notifications are often initiated by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office. A staff member logs into the Everbridge system, types a message, and sends it out. Weather notifications are sent automatically based on polygons, which are small, well-defined geographic areas. This ensures that only those in affected areas receive alerts.
Stay informed and stay safe by signing up for Delco Alerts and Snow Level Alerts today. Your preparedness can make all the difference in an emergency.
Image by Dean Moriarty from Pixabay
