Options, Opt-Ins, and The Lindon City Drill
When disaster strikes, lack of communication is a common point of failure. We use a Block Captain system in Lindon to bridge potential communication gaps. We drill once a year.
The Lindon City Block Captain System
A Block Captain helps coordinate disaster communication for a group of 10-12 units (houses, apartments, condos, etc). The Block Captain system can be used when normal technologies are down or when vital information needs to be dessiminated to every household. If you choose, you can tell your Block Captain about any special needs or pets you may have in your household. The Block Captain should be a good communicator and promote general community preparedness like family disaster planning and the maintenance of a household 72-hour emergency kit.
What this drill IS.
- An opportunity once every year to practice disaster communications as a whole city.
- A chance to get to know your neighbors, your first-line helpers in a crisis state.
- A test of our capability to create a swift, big-picture overview of events, damages, and needs during a large-scale disaster or localized emergency.
- An opportunity for Block Captains, Neighborhood Captains, Area Captains, emergency radio personnel and city officials to work together and improve two-way disaster communications with or without the use of modern technology.
- A way to increase resiliency in a time of need.
What this drill is NOT.
- Data collection. No personal information goes past the Block Captain level: no addresses, no phone numbers.
- A stunt. Block Captain systems have been used to good effect right here in Utah in real emergency situations like evacuations due to wildfire. Communications are often the first failure point in an emerging disaster scenario at the moment they are needed most. We practice to improve.
- Exclusive. We include everyone in the city whether living here permanently or only temporarily. We don't exclude anyone based on religious, gender, ethnic or any other identities. We include long-term care facilities.
- Boring. Have some fun! Get together as a block and enjoy the evening!
Exchange phone numbers with your Block Captain for this drill and for real emergencies.
WHAT ARE SOME OTHER OPTIONS FOR INFORMATION IN AN EMERGENCY?
Social Media.
Lindon City often puts information out on Facebook. As a public entity, you can proactively check our city Facebook posts online without having the app. Or, like and follow. Interact with our posts to boost the likelihood of seeing Lindon City in your feed.
Although used less, we have Instagram for Lindon City and the Lindon Police Department, and a YouTube channel primarily for City Council meetings.
And don't forget about our Lindon City website. It's utilized year-round for announcements & useful links.
Everbridge. You pick when. You pick how.
The Everbridge Notification System is the City's primary way to alert you. Whether you're a resident or a local business, please sign-up.
This is NOT reverse 911. You MUST opt-in.
— Choose only emergencies or also city events.— Choose text, phone call, and/or email.— Sign-up if you live, work, or go to school in Lindon.— Register for additional Utah County alerts.
WEA/IPAWS
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) enable alerting authorities to send text alerts that are geo-targeted through wireless carriers. Examples include extreme weather, Amber Alerts, and Presidential Alerts.
The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) can extend that system to radio and TV stations, NOAA weather radio service, Internet-based services, and some unique state systems.
These alerts can only be sent by a handful of trained operators within Utah. Messages are only one-way.