At the federal, state and local level, government employees know that keeping their communities and constituents safe and informed is their top mission.
Whether it’s the threat of violence, an impending extreme weather event, or disaster pandemics like the COVID-19 national emergency like the one we are facing today, governments and other municipalities need to have an easy and seamless way to reach stakeholders and improve lives.
Mass communication platforms create a very efficient and cost-effective way for governments, universities and more to contact everyone at once.
Regroup Mass Notification, Platinum Award Winner in the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program for Best Mass Notification Solution, works with government clients with an intuitive dashboard, easy-to-create templates and 24/7 support.
With just two taps on any device, a platform administrator can reach anyone — from dozens of department heads to millions of residents — through mobile texts, phone voice messages, social media and emails.
The vast variety of messages municipalities might need have such an enormous range.
Maybe the trash pickup for an entire town will be postponed for a week because of a blizzard.
Or maybe they need to initiate widespread community shutdowns to facilitate ‘social distancing‘ like are increasingly being announced across the country.
Maybe a small neighborhood in a large city needs to be evacuated because of a dangerous chemical spill.
Approaching hurricanes, wildfires, and the potential of violence are all incidents that require governments to work quickly to reach their specific communities, on any device.
Regroup has worked since 2006 to create easy-to use emergency and day-to-day solutions for governments, police departments, fire departments, cities, counties, tribes and nations.
(See why Regroup’s award-winning platform is the top choice for emergency and day-to-day notifications for universities, hospitals, corporations, and venues across North America and worldwide. Courtesy of Regroup Mass Notification and YouTube.)
Regroup is continually innovating to make it easier for organizations large and small, wealthy and cash-strapped, to reach people when they need it most.
Improving Government Impact Through Mass Notification
One example of the reach and efficiency of mass notifications can be found in the City and County of San Francisco.
San Francisco has been able to use Regroup Mass Notification across many departments — ranging from the fire department to the public library — to save time and money.
An organization within the San Francisco Fire Department Department, the volunteer-driven Neighborhood Emergency Response Team (NERT), found a valuable resource in mass notifications.
The response team signed up for its own account — Regroup’s platform allows for unlimited administrators for no extra cost.
NERT now trains more than 1,000 new volunteers a year, in 50 San Francisco neighborhoods with the goal of rapidly deploying help to areas that need it most during natural or man-made disasters.
(NERT is a free training program for individuals, neighborhood groups and community-based organizations in San Francisco. Through this program, individuals will learn the basics of personal preparedness and prevention. The training also includes hands-on disaster skills that will help individuals respond to a personal emergency as well as act as members of a neighborhood response team. Courtesy of SFFD NERT.)
How can a government mobilize thousands of volunteers efficiently? Mass communications.
Using the Regroup platform, the San Francisco Neighborhood Emergency Response Team sends out needed messages and regular newsletters to targeted groups or all volunteers at once.
It has created small neighborhood-based contact groups for each neighborhood leader to tailor messages to volunteers in his or her area, and when a leader moves or is replaced, modifying their permissions in the system is easy to do.
The response team says it is training volunteers to be prepared for an emergency situation.
It uses SMS/text and emails to alert volunteers to support residents in case of emergencies, particularly after the devastating wildfires that affected the area.
The ability for even a large government entity to engage a growing group of willing volunteers is just one way mass notifications can be used to mobilize people for the greater good.
“Our company is global, but our roots are in San Francisco,” explains Chris Utah, the COO of Regroup.
“We have a longstanding relationship with the leaders of the City and County San Francisco, and are so pleased to continue this valuable partnership.”
“In 2014, we were selected as one of only six startups out of 200 applicants from around the world – and the first mass communication provider — to partner with San Francisco’s Department of Emergency Management. The ability to use a private-public partnership to engage volunteers just shows the power of communication when people need it.”
Other ways governments can mobilize their communities:
-
Police departments can engage with local neighborhood “watch” groups
-
Libraries can partner with local school districts to maximize libraries as a critical public resource
-
Public human services can use a technology platform to make sure they know what resources are available for homeless people — shelters, or churches, for instance — in case of extreme weather
-
Cities and towns can warn neighborhoods through their associations about sporadic natural dangers, such as extreme weather events, coyote attacks or dangerous road conditions
-
Municipalities can engage local student groups to volunteer for needed projects
Keeping Communities Safe and Informed
-
Regroup is a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which means the company works alongside NOAA to strengthen extreme-weather resilience by providing timely alerts and resources to its client base.
-
In an increasingly unpredictable world and extreme climate events, this bolsters our ability to reach communities when they truly need it most.
-
-
Early warnings are the key to better safety during earthquakes.
-
Regroup has been involved with earthquake preparedness and alerts since 2014.
-
The Great Shakeout is an international event that tests an early-warning system about earthquakes.
-
Regroup can provide automated, multilingual warnings on any device, saving lives and minimizing damage.
-
-
“Be prepared, not scared” was the mantra of the U.S. government as it rolled out its communications strategy for helping communities prepare in case of any emergency, from power outages to widespread evacuations.
-
We help our government clients do just that: Test, train and teach their communities to be prepared in case an unexpected event happens.
-
“Partnerships at the local, state and federal level means we are able to serve a wide swath of customers with a huge variety of needs,” added Utah.
“The experience is invaluable to Regroup, as innovators.”
“We’re able to see our customers’ problems and solutions and recognize just how we can solve them for other government agencies from pragmatic, useful angles.”
Powerful Partnership: CivicPlus
Regroup has a partnership with CivicPlus, a software firm focused on local government needs.
With the partnership, CivicPlus offers CivicReady Mass Notification powered through Regroup, to city, state and local government entities.
Whether communicating routine or emergency news, CivicReady allows municipalities to alert recipients within seconds via email, phone, SMS/text message, push notifications, PA systems, sirens, and more with only two taps on a device.
It also allows for two-way communication, which can help community members respond to texts in a way that helps governments take action.
(More than 2,500 local government in North America have selected CivicPlus, powered by Regroup Mass Notification, as their integrated technology platform. From websites to mass communications, and recreation management to human relations software, CivicPlus covers multiple solutions for local government. Courtesy of CivicPlus and YouTube.)
When Hurricane Florence bore down on Regroup’s client the Town of Belhaven, N.C., it brought three to five feet of water throughout the town of 1,600 residents.
The town swiftly realized there was no efficient way to reach residents about the danger or evacuations. Immediately following the storm, the town signed up for CivicReady.
The town uses Regroup for day-to-day communications such as trash pickup notifications.
(Flooding in Belhaven, North Carolina, as a result of Hurricane Florence. Footage taken on September 14 and 15, 2018. Raw footage by Sonny Grant, courtesy of Higher Ground and YouTube.)
But when Hurricane Dorian posed a threat to the town, having a way to warn residents of impending danger easily, quickly and efficiently proved extremely valuable.
“Thanks to CivicReady and Regroup, the Town of Belhaven is more prepared than ever for emergency events,” the Town Manager said.
Following that storm, another 100 people in that small town signed up for mass notifications through Regroup.
Can your government agency or municipality benefit from an easy-to-use mass notification platform for day-to-day communication or emergency alerts? Regroup’s team can give you a customized demo of how we can serve you.
Regroup Mass Notification Takes Platinum in 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program
Regroup Mass Notification
-
Best Mass Notification Solution
-
Regroup Mass Notification
-
Regroup’s cloud-based emergency notification platform was designed to be one of the most robust and reliable in the industry, providing users the tools needed to save lives, property and continuity of business, plus allows instant alerting to large groups of recipients when a crisis occurs.
-
*Regroup Mass Notification was also recognized as a Multiple Award Winner in the 2018 and 2017 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Programs.
Enter today to Compete in the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland SecurityAwards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program is specifically designed to honor distinguished government and vendor solutions that deliver enhanced value, benefit and intelligence to end users in a variety of government, homeland security and public safety vertical markets.
The Annual ‘ASTORS’ Awards is the preeminent U.S. Homeland Security Awards Program highlighting the most cutting-edge and forward-thinking security solutions coming onto the market today, to ensure our readers have the information they need to stay ahead of the competition, and keep our Nation safe – one facility, street, and city at a time.
American Security Today is pleased to announce that Deann Criswell, the NYC Emergency Management Commissioner will deliver the keynote address at the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Luncheon Banquet in New York City.
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2020 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards at https://americansecuritytoday.com/ast-awards/.
Comprehensive List of Categories Include:
| Access Control/ Identification | Personal/Protective Equipment | Law Enforcement Counter Terrorism |
| Perimeter Barrier/ Deterrent System | Interagency Interdiction Operation | Cloud Computing/Storage Solution |
| Facial/IRIS Recognition | Body Worn Video Product | Cyber Security |
| Video Surveillance/VMS | Mobile Technology | Anti-Malware |
| Audio Analytics | Disaster Preparedness | ID Management |
| Thermal/Infrared Camera | Mass Notification System | Fire & Safety |
| Metal/Weapon Detection | Rescue Operations | Critical Infrastructure |
| License Plate Recognition | Detection Products | And Many Others! |
Don’t see a Direct Hit for your Product, Agency or Organization?
Submit your category recommendation for consideration to Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at: mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
The 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program surpassed expectations with a record number of nominations received from industry leaders and government agencies, and drew over 200 attendees to the ‘ASTORS’ Awards Presentation Banquet – an exclusive gourmet luncheon and networking opportunity which filled to capacity, before having to turn away late registrants.
The event featured an impassioned and compelling keynote address by William J. Bratton, former police commissioner of the New York Police Department (NYPD) twice, the Boston Police Department (BPD), and former chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), as he walked attendees through 50 years of American policing history, the impacts on the communities, and the evolution of critical communication capabilities in our post 9/11 landscape.
Commissioner Bratton, one of the world’s most respected and trusted experts on risk and security issues and Executive Chairman of Teneo Risk a global advisory firm, was recognized as the ‘2019 ‘ASTORS’ Person of the Year’ for his Lifetime of Dedication and Extraordinary Leadership in Homeland Security and Public Safety.
Why the ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Awards Program?
American Security Today’s comprehensive Annual Homeland Security Awards Program is organized to recognize the most distinguished vendors of physical, IT, port security, law enforcement, and first responders, in acknowledgment of their outstanding efforts to ‘Keep our Nation Secure, One City at a Time.’
Over 200 distinguished guests representing Federal, State and Local Governments, and Industry Leading Corporate Firms, gathered from across North America, Europe and the Middle East to be honored among their peers in their respective fields which included:
- The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC)
- United States Marine Corps
- The Federal Protective Service (FPS)
- Argonne National Laboratory (ANL)
- United States Postal Inspection Service
- DHS S&T
- United States Marshals Service (USMS)
- The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Police (PAPD)
- The Department of Justice (DOJ)
- The New York State Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Services (NYS DHSES)
- United States Border Patrol
- AlertMedia, Ameristar Perimeter Security, Attivo Networks, Automatic Systems, Bellevue University, BriefCam, Canon U.S.A., CornellCookson, Drone Aviation, FLIR Systems, Hanwha Techwin, HID Global, IPVideo Corp., Konica Minolta Business Solutions, LenelS2, ManTech, Regroup Mass Notifications, SafeLogic, SolarWinds, Senstar, ShotSpotter, Smiths Detection, TCOM LP, Trackforce, Verint, and More!
Why American Security Today?
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.
The traditional security marketplace has long been covered by a host of publications putting forward the old school basics to what is Today – a fast changing security landscape.
American Security Today is uniquely focused on the broader Homeland Security & Public Safety marketplace with over 75,000 readers at the Federal, State and local levels of government as well as firms allied to government.
American Security Today brings forward a fresh compelling look and read with our customized digital publications that hold readers eyes throughout the story with cutting edge editorial that provides solutions to their challenges.
Harness the Power of the Web – with our 100% Mobile Friendly Publications
The AST Digital Publications is distributed to over 75,000 qualified government and homeland security professionals in federal, state and local levels.
‘PROTECTING OUR NATION, ONE CITY AT A TIME’
AST Reaches both Private & Public Experts, essential to meeting these new challenges.
Today’s new generation of public safety and security experts need real-time knowledge to deal with domestic and international terrorism, lone wolf attacks, unprecedented urban violence, shifts in society, culture and media bias – making it increasingly difficult for Homeland Security, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Military and Private Security Professionals to implement coordinated security measures to ensure national security and improve public safety.
These experts are from Government at the federal, state and local level as well as from private firms allied to government.
AST provides a full plate of topics in our AST Monthly Magazine Editions, AST Website and AST Daily News Alerts, covering 23 Vital Sectors such as Access Control, Perimeter Protection, Video Surveillance/Analytics, Airport Security, Border Security, CBRNE Detection, Border Security, Ports, Cybersecurity, Networking Security, Encryption, Law Enforcement, First Responders, Campus Security, Security Services, Corporate Facilities, and Emergency Response among others.
AST has Expanded readership into integral Critical Infrastructure audiences such as Protection of Nuclear Facilities, Water Plants & Dams, Bridges & Tunnels, and other potential targets of terrorism.
Other areas of concern include Transportation Hubs, Public Assemblies, Government Facilities, Sporting & Concert Stadiums, our Nation’s Schools & Universities, and Commercial Business Destinations – all enticing targets due to the large number of persons and resources clustered together.
To learn more about the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Homeland Security Award Winners solutions, please go to the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Championship Edition Fully Interactive Magazine – the Best Products of 2019 ‘A Year in Review’.
The ‘ASTORS’ Champion Edition is published annually and includes a review of the ‘ASTORS’ Award Winning products and programs, highlighting key details on many of the winning firms products and services, includes video interviews and more.
It is your Go-To source throughout the year for ‘The Best of 2019 Products and Services‘ endorsed by American Security Today, and can satisfy your agency’s and organization’s most pressing Homeland Security and Public Safety needs.
From Physical Security (Access Control, Critical Infrastructure, Perimeter Protection and Video Surveillance Cameras and Video Management Systems), to IT Security (Cybersecurity, Encryption, Data Storage, Anti-Malware and Networking Security – Just to name a few), the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ CHAMPIONS EDITION will have what you need to Detect, Delay, Respond to, and Mitgate today’s real-time threats in our constantly evolving security landscape.
It also includes featured guest editorial pieces from some of the security industry’s most respected leaders, and recognized firms in the 2019 ‘ASTORS’ Awards Program.
The serious communication solution, designed for professional results.
Regroup’s cloud-based emergency notification platform was designed to be the most robust and reliable in the industry.
It provides you the tools you need to save lives, property and continuity of business and allows instant alerting to large groups of recipients when a crisis occurs.
Highlights
-
Easy-to-use but comprehensive unified communications interface
-
Multiple fail-safe features to ensure alerts can always be launched
-
APIs to automate emergency notification
-
Tools for collecting on-the-scene intelligence to increase situational awareness
-
Unlimited all-hazards notification templates to help save time in a crisis
For information about advertising opportunities with American Security Today, please contact Michael Madsen, AST Publisher at mmadsen@americansecuritytoday.com.
AST strives to meet a 3 STAR trustworthiness rating, based on the following criteria:
- Provides named sources
- Reported by more than one notable outlet
- Includes supporting video, direct statements, or photos
