To better warn citizens about emergency situations, Yellowstone County Disaster and Emergency Services is implementing a new emergency system called Yellowstone County Informed (YCI).
Citizens are encouraged to sign up to receive emergency notifications via texts, emails, cell phones, etc. at https:// member. everbridge.net/ 305943405396532/ new. The new notification system serves all residents of Yellowstone County in partnership with emergency service providers throughout the county and the City of Billings.
Annemarie Overcast, Yellowstone County Department of Emergency Services Coordinator, explained that the county implemented the new system because they had to have such a platform to access Integrated Public Alert and Warning System called IPAWS, a system which issues alerts from the Department of Justice, such as Amber Alerts.
There are many options in selecting a platform, explained Overcast and the County chose Everbridge. Since Everbridge allows each jurisdiction to brand their own system, County officials chose the name Yellowstone County Informed or YCI.
The system is very versatile and enables the city and county to issue public service announcements, as well as emergency warnings. Public entities can use it to inform the public about work schedules, road closures, community meetings, etc., explained Overstreet, in addition to emergency situations such as floods, evacuations, lockdowns, missing person alerts, power outages, fires, severe weather, and much more.
How well the system works depends largely upon citizen participation. You can’t be notified if officials do not have contact information. “It’s an opt in service.”
You may register several means of notification such as your home, mobile or business phones, email address, text messages and more — as well as, request to be informed about more than one location. Overcast recommended providing more than one means of contact.
To create an account enter contact preferences at bit.ly/YCInform or text YCINFORM to 888-777.
An app is also available from the Apple App Store or from the Google Play Store. Enter Billings or Yellowstone County into the search to sign up for local alerts.
