OakAlert to provide vital information

Oakland County has launched an electronic alert system that can help save lives during an emergency, County Executive L. Brooks Patterson announced last week. The OakAlert system will notify individuals who have signed up for the alerts about weather warnings and other emergencies in the county. Staying informed about potential dangers near home, work, or school can allow for a more adequate response time. "Providing timely information to the people who live, work and play in Oakland County is essential to the safety of everyone," Patterson said. "I encourage all of our residents, businesses and visitors to sign-up for OakAlert." The system, which is voluntary, sends notifications about emergencies, disasters or hazardous situations that may require immediate action to the emails and/or cell phones of users who registered online. Due to the nature of OakAlert's messages, they are likely to be infrequent and will only be used as needed. The messages will be limited to: â?¢ Imminent or perceived threats to life or property. â?¢ Disaster notifications. â?¢ Evacuation notices. â?¢ Public health emergencies. â?¢ Public safety emergencies. Examples include chemical spills impacting public health; outdoor warning siren activations (will not include other weather watches, warnings, or advisories); active shooter situations causing an evacuation or shelter-in-place orders; significant road closures such as a complete highway closure, not lane closures or daily traffic incidents; closure or interruption in service of county operations; and additional notifications affecting the health and safety of the county. Once a message is received through the OakAlert system, additional information will be broadcast through the media and NOAA radios. OakAlert will not but be used for notifications of non-emergency situations. Oakland County offers non-emergency messaging through the Oakland County Digital Subscription service. In addition to signing up for OakAlert, Patterson urges residents and businesses to create an emergency plan for their workplace and family. They should also put together emergency kits equipped with essential items needed during an emergency, including a crank radio and NOAA All-Hazards Alert radio. "Oakland County has great resources to help families and businesses plan for emergencies," Homeland Security Division Manager Ted Quisenberry said. "Just go to our website for a complete list." To learn more about the OakAlert system, including the registration page, go to www.oakgov.com/homelandsecurity. Published: Tue, Jul 22, 2014

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