Why is an ENS valuable during a wildfire?

An emergency notification system (ENS) connects organizations with large groups of individuals. By utilizing this platform, an organization can share critical information in many different types of scenarios, including wildfires.

Consider how an ENS was used during the Beaver Creek fire, which began in Idaho on Aug. 7, 2013. According to KMVT-TV, lightning caused the Beaver Creek fire, and it rapidly spread throughout Idaho’s Sun Valley area.

Numerous businesses operators and homeowners were affected by the wildfire – buildings were evacuated as state officials sought ways to control the blaze. Over the course of two weeks, more than 106,000 acres were burned, and at least 1,835 emergency responders were tasked with managing this critical situation.

During a wildfire, state, city, and town administrators may consider a number of factors to minimize its impact. Because a wildfire can quickly escalate, these officials will want to notify affected individuals immediately to ensure their safety.

Idaho administrators had a plan to deliver fast, effective messages to those impacted by the Beaver Creek fire. State leaders used an emergency alert system to notify impacted constituents in the Sun Valley area about the incident, which may have helped protect both life and property.

An ENS can make it easier for firefighters, police officers, and various public safety officials to inform constituents about a life-threatening situation. A first-rate crisis communication platform enables administrators to send messages via email, fax, push notification, text messaging, SMS, and other mediums, ensuring that key stakeholders are updated simultaneously.

In addition, a state-of-the-art ENS gives organizations the tools they need to connect with constituents in crises. Because an ENS targets the individual, not the device, organizations can deliver multi-modal communications that ensure respondents are kept up to date in minor and emergency scenarios.

The Beaver Creek fire highlights the value of an ENS for organizations of all sizes. By using an ENS, an organization can send critical notifications in wildfires and other dangerous situations.