McAlester Launches New Mass Notification Service to Enhance Emergency Preparedness and Communication

Sept. 28, 2011 - PRLog -- MCALESTER, OKLA. – September 28, 2011 – The City of McAlester announced today it has launched the Blackboard Connect™ mass notification platform to enhance communication and emergency preparedness. The first community-wide test call is scheduled for October 3, 2011.

McAlester has implemented the Blackboard Connect™ platform so city officials can directly notify, update and provide direction to the community in an efficient, timely manner. Using the Blackboard Connect™ service, officials can record and send an unlimited number of personalized voice messages to home phones, businesses, local agencies and mobile phones in just minutes. The service also sends email, text messages (SMS) to mobile phones, and messages to TTY/TDD devices for people who are hearing impaired.

“During an unexpected event, every minute counts,” said Cliff Pitner, Program Manager.  “With the Blackboard Connect™ service, we can quickly relay important information to the entire community, or just impacted groups, within just minutes, helping to save valuable time and resources.”

City officials can target each message to an unlimited number of groups – everything from mobilizing volunteers to coordinating efforts with relief agencies or emergency personnel. Authorized users can also contact residents based on specific geographical locations using a mapping feature, sending messages to those within select neighborhoods when needed.  

“We plan to use the Blackboard Connect™ system for a variety of communications, including extreme weather and safety warnings, as well as important city events,” said Cliff Pitner, Program Manager.  

Publicly available primary residential and business phones in McAlester will automatically be included in the system. However, to ensure that the city has the most up-to-date contact information, residents should visit the city’s website (www.cityofmcalester.com) and click on the link that says “SIGN UP NOW – SERVICES BY BLACKBOARD CONNECT,” to provide their complete information (up to three phone numbers and two email addresses) and indicate if they have a TTY/TDD. Those without Internet access are encouraged to visit the public library, where library staff can help residents log on to the secure portal, or call (918) 423-9300 to register their contact information. Residents with call blocking services should add (918) 423-9300 to their approved number list to ensure they receive important notifications from the city.  

“The best way to keep residents informed and, therefore, help to keep them safe is through communication, and the Blackboard Connect™ platform makes it easy,” said Ed Miller, President of Blackboard Connect. “With the Blackboard Connect™ platform, leaders can easily send critical information through multiple communication channels to their entire communities, from any given location, and even under even the most extreme circumstances.”

For more information on the Blackboard Connect™ platform please visit http://www.blackboard.com/connect or contact the company at (818) 808-1462.


Additional Information about the Blackboard Connect™ Platform
The Blackboard Connect ™ platform allows officials to send thousands of messages in minutes, requires no additional hardware, and can be used from any computer with Internet access or telephone. This ensures that administrators can send vital messages from wherever they are located—even if they are evacuated. Additionally, officials receive detailed reports on contacts that did not receive a message, enabling them to follow up through alternative means as needed.
 
*Blackboard Connect Inc. does not sell, lease, share, or rent personally identifiable information (names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.) to any companies or persons outside of Blackboard or its service providers.

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