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Reading unveils TextMyGov text-notification system for residents
Summary
The city will begin sending opt-in text alerts through TextMyGov to numbers in its database (initial messages about 1:00 p.m. the following day); residents can subscribe by texting 'Reading' to 91896 and opt out by replying 'STOP'. Officials said it will not replace county emergency alerts.
Safety/Service Director Patrick Ross told council May 5 that the city is launching a new resident text-notification platform called TextMyGov to improve communications with residents and to support future interactive features.
Ross said the system will initially support two notification categories: "General Alerts" for water main breaks, road closures and snow emergencies, and "City Events" for city-sponsored activities. Assistant Chief Ryan Andron clarified that the new system is not intended to replace Hamilton County emergency alerts for life-safety incidents; the county and federal emergency alert system will still be used for major disasters.
Nick Berner said the city planned to send initial opt-in text messages using phone numbers already in the city database beginning about 1:00 p.m. the day after the May 5 meeting. Residents who do not want to receive the messages can reply "STOP"; anyone can manually subscribe by texting "Reading" to 91896 for general alerts or "Reading Events" to the same number for event notices. Officials said future features may allow residents to report code violations, streetlight outages, access permit information and schedule services by text.
Council members discussed geo-targeting limits and were told the current system uses registered addresses rather than a phone's physical location; life-safety geo-fenced alerts would still come from Hamilton County Emergency Management.
