PlymouthAlert is
an Emergency Notification System that serves Plymouth County,
Iowa. PlymouthAlert will
allow citizens to sign up for the types of alerts they would
like to receive. Messages can be issued via landline or
cell phone, text messaging and e-mail. Messages may contain
photo, video and audio attachments to help subscribers better
understand the situation at hand, or where to find additional
information.
Types of alerts you can sign up for include:
♦ Emergency Alerts from Public Safety Agencies in Plymouth
County (included automatically when you register)
♦ Optional Alerts
→ Weather Alerts (Watches & Warnings)
→ Community Alerts from all cities in Plymouth County
→ Special needs information
IMPORTANT: Save the following items in your contact list as
"PlymouthAlert" so you will know when we're calling, texting, or
e-mailing you:
♦ 712-555-5555 for
phone calls
♦ 69310 for
text messages
♦ alert@plymouthcountyiowa.gov for
e-mail messages
NEW! If
you're visiting Plymouth County for a weekend or a short period
of time, you can now do a quick sign-up to PlymouthAlert by
simply texting Plymouth to 69310.
This will sign you up to receive weather alerts by text message
to your cell phone. When you leave to head home, just text STOP
to 69310 to stop the messages. NOTE: This service is geared for
tourists and those visiting for a short period of time. For our
regular and seasonal residents, we recommend signing
up for the full service that tailors weather alerts to your
location and also offers more options.
The PlymouthAlert Emergency
Notification System is a part of the Alert
Iowa statewide messaging system, provided free of charge to
all Iowa counties by the Iowa
Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. PlymouthAlert operates
using the WENS network provided by Inspiron
Logistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is PlymouthAlert?
PlymouthAlert is
a system that allows a client to immediately send out text
messages, voice calls, emails and pages in the event of an
emergency or severe weather event.
In addition to the opt-in warning notification service, the
system has many potential beneficial uses. For example, the
system provides the client with the capability to automatically
send a recorded voice message to each phone number in the
client’s database or to specifically targeted areas identified
through electronic maps. The system can also be used for other
special messages for which users “opt in” or request
notification on certain topics or events.
Please note that no communication distribution method is
infallible. For that reason, redundant systems of emergency
notification, including the outdoor siren system, telephone,
e-mail, text messages, and external systems on commercial radio
and TV stations or weather radios may be used to send out alerts
as soon as possible.
2. How do I sign up or register for the PlymouthAlert?
Just click
here!
3. How many phone numbers and e-mail addresses can I
register?
As many as you need. The system is set up to limit each address
to five phone number and two e-mail address registrations, but
it is possible to register the address more than once. So, if
you have six members in your family and each has a cell phone
number, you will have to register your address twice to enter
all of the numbers into the system. Please note that the County
reserves the right to restrict the number of registrations at an
individual property.
4. How do I acquire additional information about PlymouthAlert,
report a problem with the system, or get help with my
registration?
Please e-mail any additional questions or report problems to support@wensnetwork.com or
call 866.998.9367.
5. I registered, but I don't seem to be receiving any
notifications. What should I do?
Email support@wensnetwork.com or
call 866.998.9367. We can help investigate what issues might be
occurring and resolve the problem. The most likely problem is
that there is a block on your phone number by your carrier to
receive messages from shortcodes.
6. Is there a charge for registering to receive messages
through PlymouthAlert?
NO, this is a free service provided by Plymouth County Emergency
Management and the Iowa Homeland Security & Emergency Management
Department.
Your cell phone provider may charge you for receiving text or
phone messages, however, if that is part of your plan with your
provider. If you are concerned about being charged for a
voice or text notification, check your service agreement with
your wireless carrier for details. Service costs from your
cellular provider are your responsibility.
7. I do not have Internet access, how can I sign up to get
PlymouthAlert voice
messages to my phones?
You may call 866-998-9367, and we can help you register.
8. Does PlymouthAlert sell
the phone numbers? Will registering for this system cause
me to get more marketing calls or spam e-mails?
ABSOLUTELY NOT. Your registration information is private and
will not be shared. Neither the County nor the third party
provider will sell or provide the registered phone numbers or
e-mail addresses to any other vendor or service.
9. How do I unsubscribe? I do not want to receive
notification messages anymore.
At any time, you can simply return to the registration
page via the registration
website to unsubscribe. Click “Unsubscribe” at the bottom of
the page. The system will then ask you for a phone number or
e-mail address to unsubscribe. Enter the phone number or e-mail
address you wish to unsubscribe and hit “unsubscribe”.
10. How do I update my information if my e-mail address,
cell phone number, or other information has changed?
If your contact information has changed, follow the
instructions above to unsubscribe the information that has
changed. You must then register again with your new
contact information.
11. How do I switch a phone number from receiving a text
message to receiving a voice call or vice versa?
This is the same as changing contact information. You must
follow the instructions above to unsubscribe the phone number
and then you must re-register the number requesting the
alternate notification method.
12. How do I switch a phone number from being part of an
"opt-in" group for which I previously registered?
This is the same as changing contact information. You must
follow the instructions above to unsubscribe the phone number
and then you must re-register the number selecting the groups in
which you want to remain.
13. Exactly what phones will be able to receive these
voice notification calls?
All voluntarily registered cellular phones, including private
numbers.
All voluntarily registered landline phones.
All voluntarily registered VOIP phones, including unlisted
numbers.
14. Can PlymouthAlert use
the public database to have the Notification System call me on
unimportant matters?
NO. Regulations exist that limit our ability to send calls
to numbers in this database unless it is a public health and
safety issue, as determined by the County.
15. Will PlymouthAlert work
if there is a power failure?
Generally Yes. Inspiron Logistics maintains multiple call
centers across the nation so if one goes down, the service is
still maintained.
16. Will all cellular phone carriers deliver PlymouthAlert messages?
Yes, the PlymouthAlert service
provider works with all major cellular phone providers and is
simply placing a call to your cell phone as would any other
person. As with all cell phone calls, signal strength and other
issues with your carrier could impact delivery of the message to
your phone. Text messages, if selected as an option, will
be sent to your carrier for delivery to your phone. Each carrier
establishes its own protocols for delivery of text messages, so
it is possible for text messages to be delayed.
17. Will I receive ads or Spam on my phone?
No. Inspiron Logistics, the company behind PlymouthAlert does
not tolerate spam text or e-mail messages. Inspiron
Logistics maintains an anti-spam policy as part of the
compliance to operate with Tier 1 provisioning with all of the
major North American carriers. Tier 1 provisioning is only
granted to top emergency officials and the PlymouthAlert system
(Inspiron Logistics product name). This means that when
the mobile networks are completely congested, the only messages
allowed to go through are those with Tier 1 provisioning as a
matter of priority.
18. I don't use text messages. Can I receive PlymouthAlert notifications
by e-mail?
Yes. When you sign up online, fill in your e-mail address in
the proper field. You will be sent your emergency notification
through the e-mail address that you registered.
19. Can I register a phone number outside of the service
area?
Yes. For example, a business owner in Plymouth County may list
their Plymouth County business address but list a home phone
number in Clay County if they wish to be notified of a
significant event that puts their business location at risk.
Registration works the same when you list a phone number outside
of Plymouth.
20. Can I register an address outside of the service area?
The system is not intended to include addresses outside of the
service area. The mapping technology that reads addresses
focuses on the service area addresses. Service is not intended
nor guaranteed for addresses outside of the service area.
21. Why does PlymouthAlert send text
messages?
Text messages are simply an option in today’s society. Many
people prefer to receive text messages as compared to voice
messages. The system does limit text messages to fewer
characters, so the notification provided may be briefer or
more limited than a voice message. Each person is
encouraged to sign up for the method or methods that will most
likely ensure they receive the message. Note that you can enter
the same cell number in twice and have it receive both a voice
and text message.
22. After I received a voice message notification the
system asked me to "Press 1 to acknowledge receipt". Do I
have to press 1?
No, but we hope you do! Acknowledging receipt of the
message doesn’t impact your service or mean you will receive
more calls later. It simply allows the County to track the use
and effectiveness of the system. Acknowledging the call
enables the County to see how many calls are going through and
if the calls are being listened to. The information we get
from evaluating the system may enable us to improve the system.
23. How can the system call everyone in the service area
at once?
It doesn’t call everyone at once because the individual local
phone carriers can’t handle that many calls at once. The
system is set up to place around 300 calls at a time. This
number will be evaluated overtime as we monitor the capacity of
the phone companies.
24. Will PlymouthAlert be
periodically tested?
Yes, tests are possible. PlymouthAlert will
monitor the results of each notification issued and determine if
there is a need to test the system to verify subscriptions to
this system and to ensure the system is working properly.
PlymouthAlert will
avoid unnecessary tests, but will perform tests if determined
that it is necessary for the integrity of the system.