Du Quoin ESDA Launches High Tech eAlert Early Warning System
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[The City of Du Quoin Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA) is pleased to announce that it is launching a new community information service designed to deliver important and timely information to the citizens of Du Quoin using the latest technology.
This service, created by Nixle, LLC, delivers trustworthy and important community-level public safety and event notifications by web, e-mail and cell phone. The Nixle service is simple, trusted and available at no cost. The service provides a secure and authenticated system to connect ESDA to Du Quoin residents in real time, delivering information to geographically targeted users over their cell phones (via text messaging), through emails and through Web access. ESDA access and use of the service is at no cost to the City.
Residents of Du Quoin can now take advantage of Nixle by registering for the service at www.nixle.com. Once registered, residents will be able to receive the information via the Nixle system. Channels providing other information are expected to be introduced in the future. Registered users can customize what types of alerts and messages they get from ESDA.
"By utilizing the Nixle system, ESDA has one more tool to provide emergency information to the public. We are very pleased with the system and hope that the community signs up and takes advantage of Nixle," stated ESDA Coordinator Chuck Genesio. Not only can messages be sent out to all subscribers of the service, but ESDA can also use messaging targeting a certain geographic area, such as a half-mile radius in a certain location for evacuation purposes, Genesio added.
Genesio stated that the system will be used to advise the community as to emergency information such as evacuations and shelter information, but can also provide basic information like road closures. Testing of the system will be conducted periodically by ESDA.
In addition to the messages sent by ESDA, registered users can also sign up for weather-related messaging sent directly by the Nixle system.
Other local agencies/jurisdictions utilizing the Nixle service include the Jackson County Emergency Management Agency and Franklin County Emergency Management Agency.
For more information regarding Nixle, please visit the Nixle website at www.nixle.com or contact Du Quoin ESDA through the City Clerk's Office at (618) 542-3841.