Test of NB Alert phone-based notification system planned for Tuesday, November 26 at 4:00 p.m.

New Bedford, Massachusetts– NB Alert, the City’s new emergency notification system, will run a test on landline telephones on Tuesday, November 26, at 4:00 p.m. Residents who have signed up with their cell phone numbers will also receive the test call.

Last month, the City of New Bedford launched NB Alert, a new emergency notification system that residents may sign up for to receive calls or texts directly to their phone. NB Alert provides public safety officials the ability to quickly deliver messages to targeted areas or the entire city in the event of an emergency.

Tuesday’s test will inform residents that the phone call is merely a test of the community notification system.

Residents are still able to sign up, either to receive only emergency calls/texts, or to also receive general alerts. Residents can indicate a preference of whether they wish to receive an automated phone call, a text message, or an email.

If residents sign up for emergency alerts, the messages they receive will include updates on events such as hurricanes, blizzards, or other potential emergencies.

If residents choose to sign up to receive general updates, they will also receive an automated call or text regarding snow parking bans, street closures, delays in trash and recycling pickup due to a holiday, school closings, and other important updates.

Signing up is easy. The system is only available to New Bedford residents and must be associated with a New Bedford address; names, addresses and phone numbers are kept confidential.

Residents may visit www.nbalert.com , and select either the top choice (Create a Managed Account) to create an account, or simply submit their phone number by selecting the bottom choice (Submit My Information). After making a selection, the website will guide residents through step by step to provide the contact information they would like to use for NB Alert. A short video is also available through the City’s YouTube channel.

Any residents with questions may contact the City’s Emergency Management Office at 508-961-3060, and press 2 for the administrative office.

NB Alert is available through a national high-speed notification alert system called CodeRED by OnSolve. New Bedford has contracted with OnSolve to license the system and provide important alerts to the general public.

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