Metchosin residents will soon be notified of emergency situations with a vibrating pocket.

Whether itB次元官网网址檚 a road closure, fire or tsunami, residents of the district will have the option of being notified by text message or email from the Metchosin emergency operations centre.

In winter and fall, Metchosin is often hit with heavier snow and windstorms than other parts of the region and can be subject to longer power outages than urban areas.

B次元官网网址淭his is just another resource to contact the public with,B次元官网网址� said Stephanie Dunlop, co-ordinator for Metchosin emergency programs and the districtB次元官网网址檚 fire chief.

Getting the message out using texting and email is usually much faster than radio, television or word-of-mouth, she said. B次元官网网址淭he old-fashioned style of phone tree takes time.B次元官网网址�

But Dunlop stressed this system is only as reliable as peopleB次元官网网址檚 Internet service provider or cellphone company, so established phone alert systems will not be abandoned.

Metchosin emergency personnel and District staff have have used text messages and emails to relay information for a long time, but the service should be open to the public by Oct. 1. Dunlop said 50 residents have sign up so far.

Most recently Dunlop texted and emailed out information about the 6.4 magnitude earthquake on Sept. 9, informing district staff that there was no tsunami warning or local damage.

The Metchosin emergency operations centre has also created Facebook and Twitter accounts to allow residents to follow the up-to-date information through social media.

B次元官网网址淲e want to use as many resources as possible,B次元官网网址� Dunlop said.

To subscribe to the text message or email alerts, email Dunlop at eocchief@metchosin.ca.

To follow Metchosin EOC on Twitter go to twitter.com/MetchosinEOC and for Facebook search Metchosin EOC and add as a friend.

reporter@goldstreamgazette.com