Columbus is switching to a new emergency alert system for residents. Here’s how to sign up

The Columbus Consolidated Government has announced a new emergency alert system for its residents.

Rave Alert will replace the Civic Ready system the city previously used, according to the news release.

This system will help notify residents of potentially hazardous situations, such as weather, traffic and other emergency and non-emergency situations.

Rave Alert will allow residents to receive notifications phone, text, and email. It also will allow users to answer poll questions that will give city officials information during emergency and non-emergency situations.

Those previously signed up for the Civic Ready system automatically will be enrolled in Rave Alert.

CCG communications director Teasha Hollis told the Ledger-Enquirer that the change was made after Civic Ready finished its term of the contract and an RFP (request for proposals) was issued in 2023. The Rave Alert system will cost approximately $40,000 per year as compared to the Civic Ready system which costs approximately $35,000 per year, Hollis said.

Hollis said in her email that the systems are similar, but “Rave Wireless, Inc. will enable the city to provide and support emergency/non-emergency notifications to employees and residents of Muscogee County via a cloud-based system utilizing data, email, text, voice, social media, and messaging, resulting in increased safety and response planning for emergency situations, such as natural disasters, as well as, non-life safety matters such as, automatic weather alerts, holiday schedules for trash/recycling, planned road closures, etc.”

Anyone not previously signed up for the system can sign up for free at https://www.smart911.com/smart911/ref/reg.action?pa=columbusga.