Emergency notification system available for Jefferson County residents

Mountain Brook residents can prepare for potential severe weather by signing up for Everbridge, a free notification system provided to local municipalities by Jefferson County.

Everbridge alerts users to emergencies and potential hazards through different methods, including text messaging, phone calls and emails, depending on the user’s preference.

Weather notifications, which make up the majority of alerts, result from official National Weather Service watches and warnings and are based on a user’s specific location.

Users can sign up to receive a variety of weather notifications ranging from severe thunderstorm warnings to fog advisories, and all users receive tornado warning notifications.

The program also allows users to enter critical medical information, such as hearing impairment or the need for supplemental oxygen or insulin, and can alert local authorities of residents that may need urgent assistance in the event of a wide spread power outage or infrastructure failure.

“It’s a huge step forward in this county,” Jefferson County EMA director Jim Coker said.

“This is why we do it: to give you as much time as we possibly can to make a critical decision.”

Users can add multiple locations to their account, and Coker encouraged adding the locations residents work, have children in school or spend a lot of time. The program also allows users to select hours they would prefer not to be notified.

To enroll in the Everbridge system, click here or visit the jeffcoema.org and select the “Everbridge Citizen Alert Notification” tab.