Telephone-based and digital mass notification systems are trusted by thousands of public safety agencies nationwide to warn citizens about local emergencies, hazards, and other threats. Today, Darke County, Ohio, announced that they have selected Hyper-Reach to bring this life-saving capability to their community. Hyper-Reach is a next-generation mass emergency notification system built specifically for public safety. The service is now fully operational.
The new emergency alert system will deliver rapid notifications during hazardous and urgent situations through a combination of phone calls, text and email messages, and TTY/TDD service for the hearing impaired. It can reach thousands of targeted households in seconds and simultaneously extend alerts via social media, Alexa-enabled smart speakers, browser notifications, and FEMA’s Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system for most mobile phones manufactured since 2011.
The County plans to use the service primarily for alerts about weather and environmental hazards, criminal activity, and missing persons. Landline phones are automatically enrolled for Community alerts, but Weather alerts to landline phones and Community and Weather alerts to VoIP phones, mobile phones, and email addresses are only included when people enroll.
Residents and people who work in Darke County are encouraged to enroll now either by:
- Calling or texting “Alert” to 937-569-4409
- Going to the Darke County Sheriff’s Office or Darke County EMA website
- Going to Hyper Reach’s signup page: http://hyper-reach.com/ohdarkesignup.html
Residents can get emergency alerts via their Alexa-enabled smart speakers just by saying “Alexa, enable Hyper-Reach” and following the Alexa-provided instructions.
Residents can also download the Hyper-Reach Anywhere app on their smartphones. Hyper-Reach Anywhere is a free smartphone app that allows individual residents to manage and monitor the alerts they receive, both for their home, office, and other addresses they care about, such as those of elderly relatives or friends.
Anyone with questions about the system, may contact Darke County 911 Coordinator Melissa Hawes at 937-547-3911 or EMA Director Mindy Saylor at 937-548-1444.
