Canton can now send emergency and nonemergency alerts to your mobile device

CANTON − Alerts about emergencies, road closures and community events in Canton can now be sent to your mobile device.

The city of Canton is now offering mobile alerts via text message, email, pager and voice to those who register for the free service at www.cantonohio.gov/alerts .

To receive only emergency SMS text messages, you can also send the text message "CantonOH" to 38276.

Here are five things to know about Canton's new mobile alerts:

1. You can pick which type of alerts you will get.

You can opt in for emergency alerts and for a variety of nonemergency alerts. Emergency alerts include information regarding hazards that could require action, such as taking shelter, boiling your water or evacuating.

Each nonemergency alert must be chosen individually. The nonemergency alert options include inclement weather; city news; road closures due to construction, events or public works activities; notices from the street and sanitation departments about projects or schedule changes; parks and recreation programs; civic center event announcements; downtown and public event updates; and announcements from city council and multiple city departments such as health, building and community development.

2. An address is required for registration.

Users must include an address or location as part of the registration process.

But the address doesn't have to be your home address as the city does not verify or check the location included.

Canton's Communications Director Christian Turner said the address is used for alerts that are related to a specific location, such as a boil water advisory.

3. You must confirm your registration.

Turner said a frequent mistake by users is failing to respond to the text or email to confirm their registration. Without the confirmation, the profile will not be active.

4. If you already receive alerts, you should be automatically enrolled in mobile alerts.

Turner said the city has transferred the contact information of people already signed up for alerts to the new mobile alert system.

While prior users will receive the alerts they previously signed up for, they will not be added to many of the nonemergency alerts that were not previously available, Turner said.

To see which alerts you are registered to receive, visit www.cantonohio.gov/alerts, click on the "Modify or Unsubscribe" button and log in using your email address or phone number. You can then see and update your preferences.

5. You also can use the mobile app.

Canton also is providing alerts through two mobile apps, CivicReady and MyAlerts.

Turner warned that the CivicReady mobile app is location based and could change to another municipality that also uses the app if you are traveling outside Canton. Users must select their designated city for the MyAlerts app.

The apps are available in Google Play and Apple's AppStore. They also can be downloaded from the city's alerts website.

Reach Repository staff writer Kelli Weir at 330-580-8339 or kelli.weir@cantonrep.com .

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton can now send emergency and nonemergency alerts to your mobile device