SAN LUIS VALLEY— Residents throughout the Valley can receive emergency reverse 911 messages through the San Luis Valley Emergency Telephone Authority by visiting the website www. slve911.org.
In 2009, Connecticut became the first state in the nation to utilize a reverse 911 system and they are deployed across the U.S. and Canada. In 2004, reverse 911 was used in Granby, Colorado to notify residents of a bulldozer rampage. Reverse 911 was used during the 2012 Sandy Hook — Newtown Connecticut school shooting.
To receive the emergency messages, visit the website, www.slve911.org and next to the text, "If we can't REACH you, we can't ALERT you. Register for FREE emergency alerts," and click on “sign up here.”
After clicking on the above, you will be directed to the signup questions. After creating a profile and submitting information you will have created an account and be ready to receive emergency messages.
"For many years, the emergency planners and SLV 911 Board have been using Everbridge [slve911.org] to alert citizens to emergencies that may affect them,” said Donna Wehe, Director of Communications and Public Information Officer, San Luis Valley Health. “At SLV Health, we promote the slve911.org website in our newsletter to encourage all staff, their families, and neighbors to sign up. Once per year, all users should login and update their account information.
“On a personal note, there was a fire in my former neighborhood that could have escalated, and many of us were put on ‘pre-evacuation’ notice. I was not registered at the time and would have been unaware of the dangerous situation had it not been for a concerned neighbor who was going door to door alerting us. Ever since then, I have been promoting the use of this tool."
As previously reported in the Valley Courier, Alamosa County residents can also visit the county website at www. alamosacounty.colorado.gov and sign up for a separate reverse 911 system. Residents can sign up for both systems.
The slve911.org system can send messages to cell phones, land lines, text, email and work phones.
Visit www.slve911.org and the Alamosa County website at www.alamosacounty.colorado.gov, to receive notices.
