Residents Can Get Emergency Notifications Through City Service

After last week's storms, it could be helpful to be notified of emergency situations before they happen.

Twinsburg residents can register to receive urgent community messages from city officials in a number of ways, from text messages to tweets.

City officials are using Blackboard Connect service so residents can stay connected to and provide more efficient information during severe weather or other emergencies.

Using Blackboard Connect, the city can record and send an unlimited number of personalized voice messages to home phones, businesses, local agencies and mobile phones. The service also can send e-mail, text messages and post on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

"Keeping our residents safe and informed is of the upmost importance," said Mayor Katherine Procop. "Blackboard Connect helps enable us to send important, tailored notifications to residents quickly and efficiently, whether its trash pick-up delays or a missing child."

City officials can target each message to an unlimited number of groups. Authorized users can also use the system’s geo-mapping and group subscription features to contact residents based on specific geographical locations and interests, helping ensure recipients receive relevant, targeted information.

“I strongly encourage residents to update their contact information and message preferences to help ensure they’re prepared to receive important messages from the City of Twinsburg,” Procop said earlier this year. “Residents should also be assured that all messages will only be sent a need-be basis and will be vetted by the Mayor’s office.”

Publicly available primary residential and business phones in Twinsburg will automatically be included in the system.

Residents should visit the city’s website and click on the link that says "SIGN UP NOW – TWINSBURG CONNECT," to provide their complete contact information.

Editor's Note: Chris Mazzolini compiled this story. It was reformatted from a previous use.