The Town of Smithers has launched a new mass notification system to communicate with residents during emergencies.
Mayor Taylor Bachrach says the town has learned from other communities during floods and fires that the more prepared you are, the better able you are to respond.
Bachrach says the system, powered by Everbridge and managed by the town, will allow those registered to pick up to five notification locations.
Fire Chief Keith Stecko says the Everbridge system is also used by the Cariboo Regional District and major U.S. cities.
Stecko says the system is very robust and can be tailored to alert specific areas of town based on the type of emergency.
While the system is geared toward emergencies, it can also be used for more routine announcements, such as
service disruptions, water utility maintenance, and civic events.
Mayor Bachrach says it took him approximately 3 minutes to sign up for alerts on his iPhone. Residents can register for the system starting Tuesday May 22nd at www.smithers.ca. If you do not have access to a computer and would like to register, call Smithers Fire Rescue at 250-847-2015 (extension 2).
