CHESTNUTHILL TOWNSHIP -- There is a new way to stay informed in one part of the Poconos. Chestnuthill Township just set up a new text alert service that makes staying informed simple.
John Mathews set up the alerts for a variety of situations.
"Emergency events such as the location of an emergency shelter or if there was a water situation, a location of a water buffalo. Large community events such as community day,” said Mathews, the township’s IT coordinator.
So far, about 200 of the township’s 17,000 residents have signed up.
Alison Jochen says she’ll be adding her number to the service soon.
"It's nice to know about also when we're away and we'll get alerts you know just to let our neighbors know to kind of check on stuff too,” said Jochen of Chestnuthill Township.
Signing up is simple.
"Basically you can sign up through a text message or on our website. And once you sign up you get a confirmation text message and then we can start rolling with the text messages and sending them out,” said Mathews.
You don't have to live in Chestnuthill Township to sign up for these mobile text alerts. It's also beneficial for people who work or drive through the area on a regular basis.
"Yeah, it's close enough. It's close enough for me and I know a lot of people out in this area that would do it,” said Jessica Drinkwater.
Drinkwater lives nearby in Polk Township and says texting, alerts, and apps on smartphones are how she stays informed – and she’ll be signing up too.
“Yeah, it'll be a lot easier for me because I don't always have the time to sit down and read a newspaper or go on the television and watch the news,” said Drinkwater.
You can sign up by texting "Chestnuthill Township" to 781-728-9542 or by visiting their website www.chestnuthilltwp-pa.gov and clicking on the Photo link “Chestnuthill Township Text Alert System”