North Huntingdon switching public alert system

An upgraded emergency alert system will provide more notifications to North Huntingdon residents, but it will cost the township nearly twice as much as it’s paying for the old platform.

The township is shifting from the Nixle alert system to the Everbridge Inc. platform, as of July 15, said Jonathan Beskid, North Huntingdon’s communications and technology coordinator. The township has about 10,000 subscribers to its free alert system, which it started using in 2010.

Burlington, Mass.-based Everbridge, which acquired Nixle in 2015, will charge North Huntingdon $8,900 to send alerts to subscribers’ cell phones, compared to the $4,600 charge for using the Nixle system, said Harry Faulk, township manager.

“Nixle’s platform is very limited, and we are striving to be more connected to our community is a variety of ways,” Faulk said.

Everbridge will allow the township to communicate information and alert residents and visitors of imminent and developing emergencies, Faulk said. The Everbridge system has what township officials described as easy to use templates for different communication methods.

“This new system will allow us to contact who we need to contact when we need to contact them,” said Chief Robert Rizzo. Police need to be able to communicate with a lot of people quickly and efficiently to manage those situations effectively, Rizzo said.

Those who already subscribe to Nixle will have their alert system moved to Everbridge, Beskid said. But, those wanting all of the functions of the Everbridge system will need to create an Everbridge account. Once the account is created, text messages will originate from 89361 instead of 888777, the township said.

Those who need assistance in creating the Everbridge account can contact the township at 724-863-3806 or visit North Huntingdon’s website at township.north-huntingdon.pa.us.

Even if residents do not create the Everbridge account “we will have the ability to send life-saving messages to mobile phones in an emergency such as an active shooter, barricaded suspect, or a hazardous accident on the highway or railway,” Faulk said.

Everbridge serves 6,500 organizations worldwide, according to its website.

The township still will offer a “NotifyMe: function through its website, giving residents information such as meeting agendas, news items on the carousel on its home page and web calendars, Beskid said.