With wireless alert, York County EMA can inform public of imminent public emergency

ALFRED – If there were big trouble on the coast – flooding, widespread road damage, bridges swamped, a stubborn uncontrolled fire in northern York County that threatens life and limb, or a civil emergency – the faster emergency officials can get word out to the public, the better.

Now, York County Emergency Management Agency officials have an additional way to get in touch with residents. Three members of the agency are now certified to use a wireless alert system that sends a message to mobile phones, warning folks in the event of an imminent emergency.

The alerts are sent out only for specific circumstances, and must be ordered by an incident commander at the scene, said York County EMA Deputy Director Megan Arsenault who is certified, along with the agency’s Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Chris McCall and Training and Response Coordinator Scott Gagne.

“This certification adds another tool,” when a disaster looms, Arsenault said. “It will allow us to inform more people, and quickly. If there was an imminent public safety threat, we’d issue it along with what actions people can take to stay safe.”

The wireless alert system allows York County EMA to send messages to anyone with a mobile phone. Arsenault noted it is to be used judiciously, taking care not to cause undue panic.

“We can send alerts countywide, to a town, or even a specific neighborhood or area. We try to get it as targeted as possible, so only the people who need it are getting it,” Arsenault said.

“(This system) allows us to better serve our first responders on the ground and our community – residents and visitors of York County – as a whole,” said McCall.

Typical scenarios where a message would be sent include such events as severe weather or a civil emergency such an active shooter, said Arsenault.

It is part of the nation’s alert system, called IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System) by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. IPAWS has three components that include the Emergency Alert System used by television and radio – the one that alerts tv viewers with a loud buzzing sound and a band running information at the top of the tv screen – the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Weather Radio, and the Wireless Alert System the county EMA will use when circumstances call for it.

Maine Emergency Management Agency uses the wireless alert system, as does Maine State Police, and the National Weather Service.

The system went into effect for York County Oct. 7.

To make sure your mobile phone – android or iPhone – is configured to receive the new wireless alerts, go to settings and then to notifications. For android, continue on and select wireless emergency alerts; for iPhones, once notifications have been selected, scroll down to government alerts.

York County EMA also uses the opt-in RAVE system to send email, text messages and voice calls; people must request to be added. RAVE will continue to be used, Arsenault said, and will include messages that are important to get out, but might not reach the threshold required for using the wireless alert system. To be on the RAVE list, People can text YorkCountyAlerts to 226787 or: https://www.smart911.com/smart911/ref/reg.action?pa=YorkCountyMaineEMA