City of Ann Arbor Keeps Citizens Informed with Everbridge Alerts

​On Aug. 13, 2020, the City of Ann Arbor will join Washtenaw County and begin using Everbridge alerts to communicate with residents and businesses during emergencies and other critical events. Residents are encouraged to register immediately to receive emergency alerts at  www.washtenaw​​.org/alerts.

Everbridge will replace the city’s CodeRED emergency alert system. The city will use Everbridge to alert residents who have registered about a variety of events, ranging from severe weather, fires, floods and water emergencies, to more routine announcements, such as road closures. Messages will be sent to registered users on their preferred contact paths—cell phone, SMS, home phone or email —to ensure real-time access to potentially lifesaving information.

“Safety is our top concern — that’s why the City of Ann Arbor wants to make sure residents and businesses know about emergencies and incidents as they happen,” said City of Ann Arbor Fire Chief Mike Kennedy. “The City of Ann Arbor will use Washtenaw County’s emergency notification system, powered by Everbridge, to make sure residents know about issues that may affect their safety. This system, www.washtenaw.org/alerts, allows the city and county to contact thousands of residents in seconds via phone, email or text so users are informed about an emergency right away.”

“A resilient, comprehensive critical communications system is an essential tool for cities that need to notify thousands of residents and businesses rapidly and efficiently,” said Jaime Ellertson, CEO of Everbridge. “Everbridge is proud to have been selected by the City of Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County as a critical component of its public safety and emergency response program.”

In order to receive Everbridge emergency alerts from the City of Ann Arbor, residents and businesses must take action and register at www.washtenaw.org/alerts​. Registering contact information is the only way to ensure contact in an emergency. All registrants of the city’s CodeRED system received a notification with Everbridge registration instructions. It only takes a minute to enroll!