Published: July 15, 2008 11:13 am      

ALERT SYSTEM: Orleans joins NY-Alert

ALBION — Orleans County has joined the state NY-Alert emergency notification system as an added means of alerting residents in the event of an emergency.

The state-of-the-art system is provided free by New York state’s Emergency Management office and is in use by 30 counties.

After the Virginia Tech shootings last year, the majority of state University and City University of New York schools are using NY-Alert, as well.

The Web-based portal has the capability to provide emergency and non-emergency notification to targeted populations, including governments, emergency service agencies and post-secondary schools. Messages can be relayed by text message, e-mail, fax or telephone call to a mobile or land-line phone. Instant Message and GPS system notifications will be available soon.

“It is a platform used frequently,” said state Emergency Management Office deputy director Greg Brunelle via tele-conference last week at the Orleans County Legislature meeting. “It’s out there if you want to use it.”

NY-Alert’s effectiveness is dependent upon residents and students signing up to receive alerts at www.nyalert.gov, he said. To prevent an influx of notifications, users can manage what they would like to be alerted for.

In the future, residents will be able to request state Department of Transportation notifications for specific roadways at specific times — when they are driving to and from work, for instance.

All personal information is protected and never shared. Approximately 1.8 million state residents have already signed up, Brunelle said.

“It’s easier for us to expand as more New Yorkers come on board,” he said.

Alerts can be sent out regarding weather, traffic conditions, highway or roadway closures, hazardous spills, hostage situations and other related emergencies.

The legislators can decide who will be the authorized users of the system. Most have kept it at the county level, permitting the sheriff, emergency management director or public health director to report public alerts, Brunelle said.

The system also allows private notifications to be sent to specific groups, such as county employees or a single department. They are available to those in the group only. The posts may be made exclusively by the authorized user.

One example of such use would be private messages for the sheriff who is in need of a few extra hands, for example. An automated response phone call to the deputies off-duty could quickly determine who is able and willing to arrive for the overtime.

The system also provides alternative means of getting in touch with special response teams — trained SWAT, dive, fire, Haz-Mat or emergency medical personnel.

“You can set up as many message groups as you want,” Brunelle said. “It’s a secure way of (executing) messages.”

The pilot program kicked off last year and the system continues to expand.

Phase 2 of NY-Alert’s implementation will allow public messages to be sent to cell phones within a certain cell tower radius, regardless of whether the individual has joined the system online. It would serve as a safeguard in extreme instances to warn residents of approaching danger.

Development of NY-Alert began in December 2005, Brunelle said. Gov. David Paterson has remained in support of the program.

Orleans’ participation in NY-Alert is a supplement to the county’s current emergency alert methods upon the state’s encouragement, said Director of Emergency Management Paul Wagner. As such, he will be applying for a $375,000 grant through the Department of Homeland Security with Genesee and Wyoming counties to assess regional alternatives to their low-band radio paging systems.

The county’s radio system is aging and subject to ambient noise, Wagner said.

Contact reporter Nicole Coleman at 798-1400, ext. 8227.