Chesco emergency alerts to be upgraded

CHESTER COUNTY

Emergency alerts to be upgraded

WEST CHESTER Chester County officials plan to upgrade their emergency information sharing service and are looking for input from the public.

The Department of Emergency Services is transitioning to a new software program for its ReadyNotifyPA emergency and informational alerts. It released a countywide survey Tuesday to find out how people usually get information and how the system can improve.

Those who sign up for ReadyNotifyPA can choose which alerts they would like to get, including notices about weather and traffic, and their preferred method of receiving messages, including text, calls, or e-mail. "We wanted to see if the public wanted more information," said Amy Amer, the department's community outreach coordinator. "And if they did want more information, what information?"

The survey, at www.chesco.org/des, ends March 31.

The department expects the new software to go live July 1. The new system will ask those who have registered for ReadyNotifyPA to re-subscribe to the alerts of their choosing.

On Tuesday, the first day of the survey, about 1,100 people responded. - Michaelle Bond