With fire season no longer confined to a particular season, Yavapai County Sheriff's Office (YCSO) is putting a spotlight on the importance of staying informed during emergencies. They're urging residents to sign up for text message alerts as reported yesterday, particularly following a dry winter, which can potentially lead to increased wildfire risk in the coming months.
Residents can opt into these alerts by texting 'alertYAVAPAI' to 888777, and after supplying their zip code, they will be subscribed to the Everbridge system. This simple action could be a literal lifesaver with conditions expected to become more perilous in May and June. For more comprehensive notifications, including email or alerts for multiple phone numbers, YCSO provides a link to the Everbridge-alertYAVAPAI logo on their homepage under Featured Content, making it straightforward to sign up for the desired updates.
Beyond mobile alerts, YCSO suggests residents also register for the Genasys platform at protect.genasys.com. This tool utilizes zoned alerts for emergencies or evictions, prompting users to input their address, note down their zone, and perhaps even mark zones of loved ones for swifter information dissemination should an emergency strike.
For individuals with particular requirements in the event of an emergency, YCSO recommends registering at smart911.com to convey essential information to first responders, including any disabilities or even specifics about pets, "Please take a few minutes today to make sure you are signed up and check with family and friends to make sure they are too," reflects the sense of urgency to keep community members as informed and ready as possible.
