As the Lowcountry enters the peak of hurricane season, the Charleston County Emergency Management Department (CCEMD) is encouraging residents to sign up for its emergency notification system, now operating under a new name: CHSAlerts.
Formerly known as Citizen Alerts, CHSAlerts is Charleston County’s subscriber-based mass notification system that provides residents with timely, location-based information about emergencies and other significant events that may require public awareness or action.
Through CHSAlerts, subscribers can receive notifications about:
- Severe weather and emergency conditions
- Evacuation orders and protective actions
- Significant traffic and transportation disruptions or major road closures
- Public safety incidents
- Other emergencies or events affecting Charleston County communities
“During an emergency, getting accurate information into the hands of our residents quickly is one of the most important things we can do,” said CCEMD Director Justin Pierce. “We don’t want the first time someone thinks about emergency alerts to be when an emergency is imminent or has already occurred. Take a few minutes now, register for CHSAlerts, and make sure you have multiple reliable ways to receive information when it matters most.”
The launch comes during the most active portion of the Atlantic hurricane season, when the potential for tropical storms and hurricanes increases. CHSAlerts gives residents a way to proactively sign up for emergency information and customize how they receive notifications. Depending on the type of alert, subscribers may receive notifications by text message, phone call, or email.
CHSAlerts is one part of Charleston County’s broader emergency communications strategy. For routine and significant public safety information, CCEMD can communicate directly with CHSAlerts subscribers. For life-threatening emergencies requiring immediate public action, Charleston County may also use the federal Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system, which can send alerts directly to compatible mobile devices in an affected geographic area without requiring residents to register for CHSAlerts.
CCEMD encourages residents, business owners, and frequent visitors to Charleston County to register for CHSAlerts now, before an emergency occurs.