By Avanti Nambiar-Granite State News Collaborative
The state of New Hampshire recently unveiled NH Alerts, a new emergency notification designed to warn people about emergencies — among them, tornadoes, floods, power outages and gas leaks.
Launched on Jan. 1, NH Alerts runs on the Genasys emergency management platform, which replaces the previous CodeRed system. The state Division of Emergency Services and Communications, which oversees NH Alerts, says the Genasys platform allows public safety officials to more quickly deliver emergency and non-emergency notifications through a variety of methods, including phone calls, e-mails and text messages.
Mark Doyle, director of the division, is overseeing the transition. He said Genasys is “much easier to use” than CodeRed, and that its capabilities are “broader.” He also said the new system identifies local emergencies faster and can push out alerts “in a more efficient manner.”
The Emergency Services and Communications Division, which operates under the state Department of Safety, provides public safety messaging across the state through both local platforms and mass alerts, Doyle said. He pointed to the Genasys system’s greater speed in sending out alerts as a major benefit. “If we can save a few seconds, or even a few minutes … to be able to get that message out to the population that could be adversely impacted, and maybe save a few lives doing it … that’s exactly what it is we want to do.”
Doyle said that the division is developing a campaign designed to teach the public about the capabilities of the Genasys system.
What emergencies trigger alerts?
The NH Alerts system will also be used by individual municipalities for local safety notifications, such as active shooter situations. The system will also broadcast statewide alerts for more wide-ranging incidents, such as tornadoes.
As an example, Doyle pointed to a storm that struck the New Hampshire Seacoast in January. According to the director, “large swaths of coastline” were severely affected by flooding. The NH Alerts system was critical in reaching the affected community, he said. Notifications warned residents of road closures and the hazards of approaching the beach.
Through geographic information system (GIS) mapping, Doyle said, Genasys can target information to specific locations. Through texts and emails, the “integrated public alert warning system” can reach wireless devices within a local region, he said. Additionally, large-scale major alerts will also be communicated to residents through radio and television broadcasts.
Many Granite Staters are already registered to be notified through NH Alerts. They are users who were registered in the prior CodeRED system before Sept. 26, 2023, and were automatically entered into the Genaysys system.
Individuals who have not signed up yet or would like to update their information can go to ReadyNH.gov to enroll in the NH Alerts system. In addition, a Genasys Protect app for both Android and iPhone can be downloaded by users on Google Play and Apple’s App Store. The mobile app offers other features, including a map view and location-based notifications to keep you aware of public safety alerts.
The new NH Alerts emergency notification system features the Genasys Protect app, which includes features iike map views and location-based notifications to keep users aware of public safety alerts. (Screenshot)
Who can register?
Property owners, residents, and workers in an NHS alerts notification area can sign up through the online portal. Visitors and family members of residents in the area also have the option to register. In addition to requesting notifications, users can indicate their preferred method of contact.
Users can add their email address and phone number for texts and calls. They can also register more than one email and phone number, such as for home and personal accounts, alternative cell numbers, landlines and office phones. Users can even add their relatives’ information to the tool.
NH Alerts doesn’t require people to provide a home or work address. That being said, recording an address would help users receive location-based weather alerts. The login portal provides the option of entering multiple addresses.
If a user’s contact info needs to be changed, they can simply log in to update their online data. The login portal can also be used to unsubscribe and delete a user’s information from the system.
The Division of Emergency Services and Communications stressed that contact information will only be used by system and local administrators. Such details are not meant to be sold to outside parties.
Emails from the alerting system will come from “State of New Hampshire” (noreply@genasys.com). The message will be accompanied by the user’s registered name or title. Phone calls should show the Caller ID “603-271-7084,” and text/SMS messages should display the Sender ID 65513. However, officials recommend that users save this information on their phone as a contact.
What are some issues users may face?
While registering online, people may encounter a pop-up stating that their email or phone number is already registered. This may mean that somebody else has added their contact info into the system. In these situations, a person can return to the login screen and click “Forget your Password?” They can then use their pre-registered email or phone number to receive a temporary code to continue.
If a registered user fails to receive alerts from the system, it could be for any number of reasons. For example, their contact info may be out of date. If emails are missing, it could be that the email provider placed them in a spam or junk folder. If text messages are absent, the user may have forgotten to enable the SMS checkbox. For such reasons, NH Alerts management recommends users register more than one contact method.
For further information, email desc.database@desc.nh.gov. or call 603-271-6911 and press Option 4 and ask to speak to the E911 field representative for your town.
These articles are being shared by partners in the Granite State News Collaborative. For more information, visitcollaborativenh.org.