Following severe rainfall and street flooding, Galveston city officials are encouraging residents to enroll in the Island Alert emergency notification system. The system is essential for the provision of timely alerts during emergencies, thereby enhancing public safety and preparedness.
GALVESTON, Texas- In the wake of substantial rainfall, city officials are encouraging residents to enroll in the emergency alert system.
Photo Source: Galvestontx website
Galveston city officials are urging residents and business owners to enroll in the Island Alert emergency notification system, underscoring its critical role in public safety. This initiative was initiated in response to the torrential rainfall that occurred on Monday, which resulted in the flooding of streets and the disruption of traffic. This incident underscores the importance of prompt communication during emergencies.
The system's intended use was clarified by City Manager Brian Maxwell, who stated, "We really, really only use this for if, God forbid, we had some sort of mass shooting event, we have an evacuation, there’s an explosion, or there’s a gas leak." He observed that the system is essential for critical incidents; however, it is not activated for every meteorological event, such as the recent downpour that resulted in 5.60 inches of rainfall.
The Island Alert system, which was implemented just over a year ago, enables the city to distribute alerts via email, phone calls, and text messages regarding severe weather, hurricanes, and public safety emergencies, such as unexpected road closures and evacuation notices. Nevertheless, the city has elected to employ social media platforms for more frequent weather updates due to their greater reach.
Yesterday, Marissa Barnett, the city spokeswoman, stated, "We were posting to social media because we have a greater number of individuals signed up for that than for alert notifications." It will not be employed each time it pours. I believe that if we were to notify individuals every time it rained outside, the effectiveness of the system would be compromised.
The city utilized social media platforms such as Facebook and Nextdoor to disseminate information during Hurricane Beryl, issuing approximately eight alerts. The Island Alert system is presently enrolled by approximately 1,500 residents, although the population is approximately 53,000. Barnett observed that a significant number of individuals are under the impression that they are still registered with previous alert systems; however, their information was not automatically transferred to the new platform.
City officials have been actively engaging with the community at public events and assisted living facilities to increase the number of registrations. “One of the benefits of conducting the event in person is that we can sign them up immediately,” Barnett continued. The Island Alert system can be enrolled in by residents by visiting GalvestonTX.gov/islandalert, calling 409-692-6514, or texting 24639.
Officials underscore the significance of maintaining a dependable communication system amid the city's ongoing exposure to severe weather conditions. Ultimately, their objective is to improve public safety and preparedness in the community by ensuring that a greater number of residents receive critical information during emergencies through increased participation in the Island Alert system.
