REGIONAL DISTRICT OF CENTRAL KOOTENAY MEDIA RELEASE
For immediate release, August 4, 2020
Remaining contacts to be migrated over to new notification system, Voyent Alert!, August 5
Click here to view on the RDCK website
Nelson, BC: The Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) will implement the final stage of its changeover to Voyent Alert! on Wednesday August 5. Voyent Alert!, the RDCK’s new notification system for emergency alerts and water advisories, will migrate over all the remaining contacts from its old notification system who have not registered with Voyent Alert!. All contacts will receive a notification from Voyent Alert! with specific instructions on how to customize their accounts. The notification system is used to send alerts to residents, businesses and visitors during critical events such as wildfires, flooding or any other emergency situation. The service will also be used for water advisories on all RDCK water systems.
It is important for all users to register and update their settings, especially their location. The location positioning from our previous system was generic and could lead to receiving inaccurate or irrelevant notifications. If you previously registered to receive notifications via the Voyent Alert! mobile app you will be given instructions on how to update or remove the extra contact point. As well, recipients will be given the opportunity to unsubscribe from the system if they so choose.
On July 8, the RDCK introduced the new notification system for emergency alerts and water advisories. A notification was sent via our old system, Connect Rocket, advising all recipients to register with the new system. Voyent Alert! is FREE and offers a user-friendly experience that delivers emergency notifications via a smart phone app, text message, voice call or email. Each notification will provide a personalized map, distance and direction from an incident, important safety information, and any next steps required. This will provide RDCK residents with relevant information, allowing them to make better, more informed decisions. Advanced capabilities ensure notifications are sent only to relevant users.
For residents who do not have access to the internet and wish to register to receive notification via a landline phone, please contact the RDCK at 250-352-1539.
REGISTER NOW for Voyent Alert! It is easy to use and personal information you provide will only be used for the purposes of sending out emergency and/or water notifications.
In an emergency it is imperative to receive trusted, timely and accurate information to ensure the safety of you and your community. Voyent Alert! uses advanced geospatial technology to send personalized alerts for emergencies and non-critical notifications related to the RDCK. With Voyent Alert! you will receive personalized communications based on your preset locations. The feature enables our Emergency Management team to communicate emergency information such as evacuation orders, evacuation routes and other critical information only to residents whose preset locations are within the affected zone. The RDCK will continue to use other forms of communication as well, including its website, social media and hand delivering notifications for evacuation orders and some evacuation alerts.
The RDCK Water Notifications will also be supported by the Voyent Alert! system. Residents who are connected to a RDCK water system will have the option to receive all water system related notifications.
For more information on the new system, access to FAQ’s, obtain information on Voyent Alert! privacy policy or how to login to your account, visit the Voyent Alert! Community Member Support Page or go to
www.rdck.ca/emergencynotifications
Incorporated in 1965, the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK) is a local government that serves 60,000 residents in 11 electoral areas and nine member municipalities. The RDCK provides more than 160 services, including community facilities, fire protection and emergency services, grants, planning and land use, regional parks, resource recovery and handling, transit, water services and much more. For more information about the RDCK, visit www.rdck.ca.