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Rave Alerts FAQs

Rave Mobile Alerts FAQs

What is Rave Mobile Alerts powered by Smart911?

Alerts powered by Smart911 is the Township of Ewing’s official emergency alert and notification system. This system is used to send alerts to the public during emergencies. Rave Alerts powered by Smart911 is a free service that allows you to sign up online to receive customized alerts via text message, email, and voice message.

In addition to emergency alerts, you can also choose to receive customizable community notifications. These include notifications about severe weather, safety, health, utility disruptions, major traffic incidents, and more. This service is provided by Ewing Township at no cost to the public; however, message and data rates may apply.

Why should I sign-up for Rave Alerts powered by Smart911?

When emergencies happen, be the first to know. The Township of Ewing uses Rave Alerts powered by Smart911 to send official, real-time alerts to the public with information about potentially life-saving actions they may need to take to keep themselves and their families safe. By signing up for Rave Alerts powered by Smart911, you are taking a large step toward improving your personal safety.

How does it work?

When an emergency occurs that meets the criteria for sending out an alert to the public, Ewing Township’s emergency dispatchers will gather the necessary information and push out an alert to the affected area. Alerts can be sent out township-wide to everyone who has opted-in to the system, or to a specific area or neighborhood for more localized events.

How much does it cost?

This service is provided by Ewing Township at no cost to the public; however, message and data rates may apply depending on your provider and phone services.

Can you guarantee that I will receive notifications if I register?

While Rave Alerts powered by Smart911 is an excellent system, we cannot guarantee that you will receive notification in all cases. Disasters and emergencies are chaotic and unpredictable, and notification is dependent on external providers such as your wireless carrier or email delivery service outside Ewing Township’s control. Rave Alerts powered by Smart911will use several means of communications to try to ensure that should any one communications method, technology, or delivery option be unavailable to reach residents, other methods will be used to improve the likelihood that citizens will see the message.

What types of alerts will I receive?

Emergency alerts are sent 24/7 when there is an immediate threat to life and/or property. In addition to emergency alerts, you can also choose to receive customizable community notifications. These include notifications about:

Severe weather
Safety risks
Health risks
Transportation disruption
Special event information

Can I call the alert phone number back or reply back to the email?

You are not able to reply to texts or emails sent by Rave Alerts powered by Smart911. Voice messages provide a dial-back number to replay an alert message.

When will I start receiving alerts?

Once you have signed up online at Sign Up - Smart911 and confirmed your contact information within the system, you will begin receiving alerts.

How do I update or remove my notification preferences and contact information used by Rave Alerts powered by Smart911?

Follow the below steps to change your Rave Alerts powered by Smart911 preferences (for example, to reduce the number of messages of a certain type, or to change the contacts used for each kind of message):

Go to the login page Sign Up - Smart911 for Rave Alerts powered by Smart911.
Login using your Rave Alerts powered by Smart911 username and password (If you’ve forgotten these, follow the instructions on the page under “Forgot Username or Password?”)
Once signed in, click the ‘Preferences’ tab at the top
Under ‘Notification Preferences’, you can make changes to both the phone numbers and email addresses on which you want to receive Alerts powered by Smart911 messages by clicking or unclicking the checkboxes
You can also choose what alerts you want to receive and the method you wish to receive them by (text, voice, email)
1. For example, if you wish to turn off all messages regarding Transportation Disruptions, simply uncheck the box to the left of “Transportation Disruption”
2. If you wish instead only to receive emails for Transportation Disruption notifications, instead uncheck the “Text” and / or “Voice” choices, so that only “Email” remains checked.

How often will I receive alerts?

The frequency for which you receive alerts depends on the addresses you provide and the types of alerts you select to receive as well as the frequency of actual emergencies. Emergency alerts will only be sent when there is an immediate threat to life and/or property. Community notifications will be sent when the criteria for sending an alert are met.

This system is not intended to bombard you with information. The Township will only send you alerts about the information you select to receive. To change your alert settings, login to Sign Up - Smart911 and edit your preferences.

How does the Rave Alerts powered by Smart911 system respond to busy signals or no-answer situations?

If a call completes and is sent to your answering machine or voice mail system, a message is left. If a phone call is not answered or busy, the system redials your number several times.