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RoCo Alerts still valuable communications tool, minus hiccup

RoCo Alerts still valuable communications tool, minus hiccup

Rowan County and City of Salisbury staff have few communication tools at their disposal to push emergency messages to the community. But none are more effective than RoCo Alerts. This new program has allowed us to send notifications to a large group of people at once for events such as severe weather, missing elderly residents, chemical spills, and lost children. If necessary, we are able to reach just over 55,000 residents between landline telephones, cell phones and email. While cell phone and email addresses are included via opt-ins, landline telephone numbers are included from the telephone company. Think of it as a reverse 911 call to your home telephone.

On Friday, April 17, the RoCo Alerts team received a telephone call about Gabriel Wyck, a missing 16-year old who presumably ran away from home earlier in the day. We felt that the most efficient way to send this notice was to formulate a RoCo Alert, even given the late time frame. Typically, a one-time text alert is sent. That did not happen in this case.

A hiccup in the system caused many residents to receive multiple telephone calls and text messages regarding this missing child. For this, we apologize. Yes, it was frustrating. Yes, people were awakened from their sleep. And yes, we are implementing plans to keep this from happening again, unless it is a major emergency event, such as a tornado or another life-safety situation. We will also weigh time of day versus immediacy of the event. If you do receive this type of alert in the future, please allow the call to play through which will end the cycle of telephone calls.

RoCo Alerts are not sent on a regular basis. The majority of the alerts sent are to a geographically-specific area. Many people whose number is in the system probably have never received an alert from the system. Please know that we take the safety of our residents very seriously and do all we can to inform you when it is warranted. A missing child alert is always warranted. Luckily, Gabriel was located in another state.

We understand the concerns regarding this latest notification. Please accept our apologies for this hiccup.

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Monthly Newsletter

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05/2025Rock Out at Cheerwine Festival | Cheers for Shirt Design Winner | Festival Shuttle Service | Festival Information
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03/2025Cheerwine Festival T-Shirt Contest, Spring Spruce Up Week, Protect Your Water Bill, Pilot Traffic Circle
02/2025Tips For Cold Weather, Cheerwine Festival on May 17, Join A City Board, Tree Give-A-Away
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08/2024Take A Tree Tour | Officer Awarded For Saving Baby | Sculptures in the Spotlight | Go Out on a limb for the Tree Board
07/2024National Night Out | Footbridge Repairs | Approved City Budget | Citizen's Academy | Hurricane Prep
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06/2024EDK Awards | Street Repaving | City Budget | Rec/Senior Center Survey | Spruce Up Week
03/2024Vote on Cheerwine Festival T-shirt Design | What to do for Water Line Breaks | Sign Up For RoCo Alerts | Spring Spruce Up Week
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12/2023Public Art | Holiday Decor Contest | Main Street Project | Winter Spruce Up Week
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05/2023Neon Trees Headline Cheerwine Festival | Summers Camps | Smoke Alarms | Lawn Tips | Street Resurfacing | May is Bike Month
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01/2023Downtown Decor Displays Holiday Spirit | MLK Celebration | Humanitarian Nominations | Wine About Winter Tickets On Sale | Reader Survey
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11/2022Holiday Events | Salisbury Youth Council Inducts New Members | Tips to Shop Safe | Toss the Grease
10/2022Tips for Trick-or-Treaters | United Way Rowan | Crime Prevention Month | 4th Cultivating Community Conversations | Leaf Collection
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09/2022Bell Tower BREWFEST | BlockWork | Salisbury Police Foundation | Transit Month | Rowan Creek Week
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08/2022Kudos To Lifeguards | Grant to Fund Flood, Road Sensors | Funds for Family Water Bills | City Awarded For Good Health
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