Strathmore full steam ahead with local alert program

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

Canada’s recent weather events and natural disasters have played a cataclysmic role in spurring the creation of Strathmore’s first local notification system.
Discussions for Strathmore Alerts – a communication tool to distribute information and instructions within the town and area during an emergency – began roughly three years ago.
On April 25 of this year, the system became public during Strathmore’s first night market, with a total of 295 residents signed up to date.
“We’re seeing so much change in the weather and lots of different other events happening around us and Canada that it’s more beneficial for us to have our own notification system,” said Catherine Walsh, emergency management coordinator with community services at the Town of Strathmore.
“I think at times there’s lots of miscommunication posted, especially now that we are all about social media. There’s lots of misinterpretation of what is actually happening in the community, so this is a way to clarify all that.”
Walsh added that providing the community with the same information at the same time is critical, especially when some members of community aren’t using social media or smartphones. Therefore, the system is available through email communication, text messages or phone calls to cell phones or landlines – dependent on one’s preference. Those who are opted-in have the opportunity to choose to receive notifications about events that may affect their homes, workplace, schools and more.
Strathmore Alerts strives to contact residents in the area with information about imminent threats to health and safety as well as informational notifications regarding severe weather events, wildfires, flooding, gas leaks, police activity, road closures, hazardous material spills and other emergency situations. The emergency notification system is a service provided by Everbridge, a company founded after the infamous 9/11 attacks in the United States and since then has served over 500 million people worldwide. Everbridge’s objective is to ensure business, government and healthcare organizations are prepared to respond quickly to unexpected disruptions. Not only does the company deal with small communities and counties, but whole countries across the globe as well. Their critical event management platform sent out over 2 billion messages last year, and their services were imperative when Hurricane Lane approached Hawaii and wildfires devastated California.
“It’s critical that residents and visitors are alerted and can be kept informed of when there’s events going on especially when minutes matter and that’s where Everbridge’s capabilities really come in,” said Jeff Young, vise president of corporate communications for Everbridge.
“Most important aspect of communications is that you’re communicating through and with technology that is being used by the most people. That’s why our platform is able to send out critical alerts to so many different types of devices and mediums and make sure we are reaching the largest amount of people in a community.”
Young added that the company is able to reach over 100 modalities including sms, text, landline, digital signage, and social media.
Wheatland County Fire and Emergency Management Coordinator Judy Unsworth said the county is also currently in the process of creating a local alert system.
However, some confusion has emerged distinguishing between Strathmore Alerts and the Alberta Emergency Alert application.
“There has been some confusion with people who have signed up for it saying they’re not getting the alerts but they’re getting it confused with Alberta Emergency Alert. It’s very different – this system is just specific to Strathmore and area,” Walsh said.
Once in effect, the system will inform the community about an emergency, provide communication on evacuation notices and temporary shelter, and offer tips and steps on how to stay safe.
The system is still in its infancy and Walsh said a test alert will be sent out over the next month. Those who sign up will also receive a local emergency services calendar that’s ready for distribution in November.
To sign up visit tinyurl.com/strathmore-alerts or strathmore.ca under quick links. For more information contact Catherine Walsh at 403-934-3022.