JACKSON COUNTY ADDS NEW EVACUATION UPDATES TO EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM

MEDFORD, Ore. — Jackson County has rolled out a new feature of its emergency alert system, one that will allow residents to stay updated on evacuation levels even if their area is not the subject of emergency notifications.

Jackson County is still using the Everbridge system — locally known as Citizen Alert — which allows for targeted messages to registered residents in certain areas. These alerts go out automatically to anyone with a landline, as well as anyone who registers their email or cell phone.

Sign up for Jackson County’s evacuation notifications by:

  • Texting JACKSONEVACS to 888777.
  • Once opted in, individuals will receive any messages for all level 1, 2 and 3 evacuation notification sent by Jackson County Emergency Management and Cities.
  • A Citizen Alert account is not needed to receive messages sent through the keyword.
  • A Citizen Alert account is needed to receive emergency alerts that are specific to your personal address(es).

The new addition also operates through Everbridge, but allows people to stay apprised of evacuation notices with a simple text-in process that operates separately from the existing alert system. By opting in, residents can receive all Level 1, 2, and 3 evacuation alerts issued by Jackson County and city jurisdictions.

“We are very excited to add this to our mix of alerts. This new keyword adds an option for those who prefer to be notified of any evacuation notification in Jackson County,” said Holly Powers, Jackson County Emergency Manager. “Residents are still encouraged to sign up through Citizen Alert first to receive emergency information specific to their address. These additional alerts will also help to lower the use of critical emergency touchpoints like our 911 system.”

To opt in for these evacuation alerts, you can text JACKSONEVACS to 888777. A Citizen Alert account is not needed to receive these messages.

In order to receive emergency alerts specific to your address, you do need to sign up for Citizen Alert.

The Everbridge system came under scrutiny in the wake of the Almeda Fire, when many people wondered why the broader Emergency Alert System (EAS) was not activated. An independent report issued at the beginning of June concluded that the County’s choice for alerts was a net positive in the Almeda Fire response, despite breakdowns in communication between different jurisdictions.

Governor Kate Brown released a statement on Monday advocating for OR-Alert, the state’s push to promote and unify county-level emergency alerts. According to Brown’s office, the system has been fully implemented in 26 counties and is in works for another eight counties.

Brown said that the roll-out is “timely” after a succession of severe weather events in Oregon — ice storms, extreme drought, record-breaking heat, and dangerous wildfire seasons.

“Last year’s historic fire season taught us that being prepared can truly be the difference between life and death,” said Governor Brown. “With Oregon facing increasing climate-related weather events, there’s never been a better time to make a plan with your family to be prepared. I’m urging all Oregonians to sign up for local alerts through OR-Alert and to take steps to ensure you and your family can be safe in the event of an emergency.”

OR-Alert compiles the various County alert systems, so a resident of Jackson County who visits the OR-Alert website will be directed to the Citizen Alert sign-up via Everbridge. Residents of other counties will be directed to their own systems.

Like with Jackson County, anyone in Oregon can sign up for some emergency alerts by texting their zip code to 888777, or visit www.oralert.gov to fully sign up. People can also download the Everbridge app to receive alerts.

“Between extreme weather, wildfires, and the pandemic, it became clear that our state needed a streamlined and customizable way to enable emergency managers at the local, county, Tribal, and state level to communicate with the populations they serve across the state and at a moment’s notice,” said William Chapman, Statewide Interoperability Coordinator. “OR-Alert has filled this need and is ready for Oregonians to sign up.”

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