WILLIAMSBURG — The City of Williamsburg announced Thursday it has launched a new emergency notification system.
RAVE Mobile Safety, a provider of critical communication and collaboration technology for mass emergency notifications, is now the official emergency notification system used by the city to communicate with residents during emergencies. The city said the system replaces its current notification system at a savings of approximately $30,000 per year.
The city will use the new system to send emergency messages through various modes, including SMS (text). Messages will come from either one phone number, 757-520-0703, or four “short code” numbers: 226-787, 672-83, 780-15, and 772-95.
The city noted other local governments, colleges, universities, and businesses also use Rave Mobile Safety as their mass notification system, including William & Mary and Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, sharing the same short codes. Any message from the city will always start with WBURG ALERT.
Residents who sign up to receive emergency alerts via text message are encouraged to create a contact card in their smartphone with the city alert phone number and short codes, as all five will be used to send messages.
Residents who received emergency alerts through the city’s former system, Everbridge, have been automatically signed up for the new system, it said. Those who previously received emergency alerts via email will be sent a confirmation email that requires action to continue to receive alerts through the new system.
To sign up for emergency alerts or learn more about how to create a contact card visit williamsburgva.gov/alerts. On signup, residents can:
- Add an address to receive geo-targeted alerts.
- Indicate what types of alerts to receive, such as weather or public safety alerts.
- Indicate the method for delivery, such as text, email, and/or voice message.
The city provides the service at no cost to the public; however, message and data rates may apply.
