A new alert system will instantly notify Haines residents of local emergencies.

Dispatch Supervisor Celeste Grimes said the idea for a more efficient notification system was inspired by June’s boil water notice. Staff went door-to-door and made calls to individual residences to deliver the message, but some people weren’t reached because they weren’t home, Grimes said.

“We thought, ‘There’s probably a better way to do this.’ Nixle seemed to be that path,” Grimes said.

Nixle is a service that allows the Haines Borough Police Department, Alaska State Troopers, the Haines Borough and other “partner agencies” to send alerts via text message or email, said police chief Heath Scott. The alerts can include weather alerts, traffic hazards, road closures, missing person notifications, AMBER alerts, public safety notices and more.

To receive local SMS text message alerts, text 99827 to 888-777, or HAINESPD to 888-777 to receive only Haines Police department alerts. You can also register for email, web and text alerts at http://local.nixle.com/register/.

Grimes said dispatch is uploading a database of landline phone numbers to the system so people who are not registered for Nixle can receive an automated call or voicemail at home in case of an emergency.

Scott said Nixle is important because, “the department can get good, clear information out to our residents.” Skagway and several other communities in Alaska use Nixle.

In a presentation he gave at the Aug. 23 borough assembly meeting, Scott said implementing Nixle would cost approximately $6,000.

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