Kamloops, BC – April 19, 2023 – The City of Kamloops, Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) are encouraging all residents to register for Voyent Alert! in advance of the 2023 flood and wildfire seasons.
All three local governments utilize Voyent Alert!, an emergency notification system that allows residents to register for emergency updates via SMS text, phone call, email, or app notification, making the system accessible in both urban and rural settings. A recent update to the app now allows residents to seamlessly register any property within the City, Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc, or TNRD boundaries to the same account and receive notifications from the appropriate local government.
“We’ve already seen grass fires pop up this year, so emergency preparedness is very top of mind,” said Will Beatty, the City’s Emergency Preparedness Manager. “Registering for Voyent Alert! is a simple step residents can take to ensure they get timely updates this season.”
“The grasslands on Tk̓emlúps IR #1, being our primary populated area, are tinder dry right now and with winds picking up in the afternoon this makes for potential grass fires,” said Shane Wardrobe, Tk̓emlúps te Secwépemc’s Emergency Planning Coordinator. “The Voyent Alert! tool is an essential part of getting timely notification to community members and I urge everyone to get on board.”
“The TNRD used Voyent Alert! extensively during the 2021 wildfire and flood events, where we issued a record-breaking number of evacuation orders and alerts,” said Kevin Skrepnek, the TNRD’s Manager of Community and Emergency Services. “It’s a critical tool for getting accurate information to the public when they need it most within our 10 Electoral Areas.”
As some devices automatically offload unused apps, registered app users are encouraged to verify that the app is active on their devices. Residents are also encouraged to open their Voyent Alert! app or log into their account to ensure their locations are positioned accurately.
In the event of an evacuation alert or order being put in place due to flood or wildfire, this system will be a vital way of alerting and updating the public. If used, the notification will include important information about the event and instructions for if any action is required.
Registration for Voyent Alert! is free, easy to use, and anonymous, and you can unsubscribe at any time. Download the free Voyent Alert! app from GooglePlay or the App Store.
For more information on Voyent Alert!, visit one of the resource web pages:
Media Contact:
Colton Davies, Communications & Marketing Manager
Thompson-Nicola Regional District
Tel.: 250 377-6299
Email: cdavies@tnrd.ca