Alert Burlington, a new community emergency notification system

By Staff

April 4th, 2022

BURLINGTON, ON

The City is launching Alert Burlington, which is a community emergency notification system.

Anyone who lives or works in Burlington is encouraged to subscribe to the system.

August 2014 – one side of the city was badly flooded – the other side was hardly aware.

In the event of a community emergency, notifications will be sent to anyone who has subscribed and is within the affected area. The alert may be received as a text, email, or phone message, in one of several different languages depending on your communication preferences.

Signing up for Alert Burlington is easy. Go to Alert Burlington and register your contact information and place of residence.

When emergencies happen, Alert Burlington will help you be among the first to know. The City of Burlington will use Alert Burlington to send official, real-time alerts to the public with information about potentially life-saving actions they may need to take to keep themselves and their families safe. By signing up for Alert Burlington, you are taking a large step toward improving your personal safety.

Once you register, be sure to update your information at least once a year, including any change in cell phone carrier.

The Gazette had some questions on just how this service would work – we put them to the city’s communications department.

Just how will it work?

When we are aware of a community emergency, a message will be sent out to the affected residents advising them of next steps to take to stay safe.

When will it be operational.

The system is operational now.

Is the information people provide secure – in that the city will not make it available to any other level of government or other community agencies.

It is secured on Canadian servers and not shared with anyone.

Who decides that an event is worth putting out on the Alert system

Fire Chief, Community Emergency Management Coordinator

Is there a person who is a :duty officer who creates and sends out an alert.

Communications will send the alert after receiving direction from the Community Emergency Management Coordinator or Fire Chief

What is the service going to cost

The service is free to subscribers. Standard text and messaging rates may apply.

And who provides the network the alerts go out over.

Rave Mobile Safety: Rave Mobile Safety | Leading Provider of Critical Safety Technology

Are these alerts delivered electronically via email or are they sent to telephone numbers – including land lines.

Residents can choose text, phone call (landline or mobile) and/or email.

Quick Facts
Burlington’s top 10 community hazards:

Via Rail cars were derailed in 2012 Several cars were smashed together with passengers inside. There were no passenger fatalities.

1. Cyber Attacks
2. High Wind Events
3. Winter Weather Events
4. Infectious Diseases
5. Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive (CBRNE) Events
6. Urban Flooding Events
7. Fires or Explosions
8. Electric Energy Hazards
9. Erosion
10. Transportation Emergencies (road and rail)

Amber Rushton, Community Emergency Management Coordinator explains the service this way:  “Alert Burlington is another way our team can help keep you and your loved ones safe during emergencies and disasters. The safety of our community is very important to us, and this is an additional tool that we encourage residents to register for. By signing up for Alert Burlington, you will receive live safety messages and critical incident updates to better guide you, your family, and your neighbours during an emergency/disaster. Head to Burlington.ca/alertburlington for more information on how to prepare for community emergencies.”

Links and Resources
Direct link for registration: getrave.ca/smart911/ref/reg.action?pa=burlington

Alert Burlington: burlington.ca/alertburlington