News

Sheriff launches emergency alert system

By Bill Moss, Published: September 14, 2015

Henderson County Sheriff’s Office has launched a Community Notification System that will provide community advisories and alert residents by phone and text about emergencies. The service could provide county residents with information on everything from snow storms to road closure to hazardous waste spills to missing persons.

“This system allows our Communications Center to send potentially life-saving information directly to residents no matter where they are,”  Sheriff Charlie McDonald said in a news release. “We are fortunate to have this great communication resource, but it only works if people take a few seconds and get registered.”

The system made by Nixle allows the Sheriff’s Office to send important and valuable public safety and community information directly to residents who subscribe to the free service. Residents can customize their account and decide if the information is delivered via text message, email, or over the web.

To sign up, residents can visit www.hendersonsheriff.org and click on the Nixle button or text their zip code to 888777 from their mobile phone. Nixle is free (the user's standard text messaging provider fees apply) and there is no spam or advertising.

Three levels of notifications are available.

• Alert messages are critically important information and could include severe weather warnings, missing person alerts, evacuation notices, hazardous material spills and other issues that require immediate action.
• Advisory messages include information concerning road closures, wanted suspects and severe weather watches.
• Community messages convey information about upcoming events, crime prevention tips and community news.

Once registered, residents will receive a confirmation text to their mobile device. They can visit www.nixle.com to customize their alert settings and choose which messages they receive and the delivery method.

“We are always encouraging the public to be prepared for emergencies and natural disasters,” McDonald said. “Nixle alerts provide updates from the National Weather Service and local emergency responders that will keep residents informed in emergency situations.”