Palm Beach rolls out new system for location-specific alerts and news releases

In an effort to provide more targeted communication with residents, the town is rolling out a new emergency alert and news release platform.

The system, which had a soft launch in December, allows for the distribution of vital information through location-specific communications with residents, who must opt in to receive them.

Communications would include town alerts on weather hazards, police activity, traffic delays, road closures and other situations that affect certain parts of the town, as well as news releases on upcoming events, activities and more.

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The system will be fully implemented once a "critical mass" of residents opt in to receive the targeted communications, said Jordan Belfer, a project specialist with the town.

To date, 64 residents have opted in to receive the targeted communications, Belfer said. The town has more than 8,000 subscribers to its current communication platform, which delivers news releases and alerts townwide.

However, town staff said, some of the alerts are sent to residents who don't really need to see them.

"We hate, sometimes, when all of a sudden three or four messages come through, and some are on the South End and one's on the North End," said Jess Savidge, the town's administrative manager. "We know that a person in Midtown is getting information that really isn't pertinent to them."

Belfer said the new system would give town staff more control over who gets the communications.

For example, he said, the town's police and fire departments could alert residents about roads that have been blocked off in the North End while a search for a suspect is underway. Or, the Public Works Department could inform residents in Midtown about road closures for undergrounding work.

"The more targeted the alert, the better," Belfer told the Daily News. "If it's something that affects 100 people, let's only tell 100 people. Information can turn into bombardment quickly if you're sending out something very narrowly focused to 8,000 people."

The new system is an upgrade to the previous one, Belfer said.

Subscribers who receive alerts and news releases through the old system will still get them, Belfer said, but they must go into their accounts and update their addresses in order to receive the more targeted communications from the town.

Communications would be sent to subscribers via email, phone calls, text messages and push notifications. Subscribers can pick the way in which they want the communications delivered.

"It's bringing the town alert system into the 21st century," Belfer said. "It's what people expect in 2024."

The town has five categories for which subscribers can sign up to receive town alerts and news releases, Savidge said.

They include: town alerts for emergencies, hurricanes, storms, traffic, bridge closures, detours and road conditions; information and news (including public meetings, holiday operations, garbage and recycling, weather, storms and miscellaneous updates); town planning, zoning and building-related news releases; town public safety and emergency services news releases; and town recreation and community events news releases.

Subscribers also can sign up for public meetings and community events calendars.

The town has embarked on a promotional campaign to get residents to opt in to the new system, reaching out via email, news releases and flyers placed at Town Hall and other locations throughout the town.

"Our goal is to reach everyone who is subscribed and encourage more people to subscribe," Belfer said. "This opens the door to expanding. The residents are really appreciative of how town-serving the communications are. This just lets us bring you to the next level."

In order to opt in for location-specific communications, subscribers must access the public signup page either by scanning the QR code included in flyers that are available at Town Hall, the Central Fire Station, the police department lobby and other locations; or by visiting the town's website at townofpalmbeach.com, scrolling to the blue "Resident Services" banner and clicking on the "Stay Connected" button. The flyer is accessible under the first link for information and instructions, and the public signup webpage is accessible by clicking the “Town Alerts and News Releases” dropdown.

For information, contact Belfer at webinfo@townofpalmbeach.com.

Jodie Wagner is a journalist at the Palm Beach Daily News, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach her at jwagner@pbdailynews.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Daily News: Palm Beach rolls out system for location-specific alerts, releases