Emergency communications in the RDCK are getting a big boost from a new system that will notify residents and visitors about emergency events throughout the region.

The community notification system is a free and easy program that enables users to receive free text messages and landline calls notifying them of emergencies occurring in the area for which they have selected alerts for. The system will also link to pertinent information the public needs to deal in an emergency event—evacuation alerts and notices, maps, emergency centre locations, etc.

To sign up for notifications, visit https://rdckemergency.connectrocket.com/

“This is an important tool that will assist us in helping our residents stay safe and informed during emergency events,”

advises Andrew Bellerby, Regional Fire Chief with the RDCK.

“Visitors to the region canalso sign up for selected periods of time. We encourage everyone to sign up and have your friends and families do the same.”

The RDCK will offer a demonstration of how to sign up for the notifications at Disaster Day, which is being held on Saturday, May 7th on Hall Street in Nelson. Come out and meet emergency management personnel and find out how you can prepare for a disaster. “We can make the Kootenays a safer place to live in if we all work together,” says Chief Bellerby.

Read the full notice in pdf here 2016-05-06-MR_Emerg_Notification