The city has launched NNALERT, a new emergency notification system for Newport News residents. Powered by Everbridge, a nationally recognized communications platform, NNALERT allows the city to send out alerts and notifications to citizens through various methods and on a variety of subjects. You can sign up and choose the emergency notifications and other important alerts that you would like to receive. The time-sensitive messages are delivered by the method specified by you—such as your mobile or business phones, email, or text messages. You can also designate Newport News addresses you would like to receive alerts about such as home, work or a child’s school as some messages may be specific to a certain area of the city. Information comes directly from the source such as National Weather Service, Police, Fire or other city departments. Initial offerings for emergency notification categories include weather alerts and the One City Marathon. As more alert options are added, registered users will be notified and you can update their selections to include the new options.

Signing up is easy. There’s a link on the front page of the city’s website. You have the ability update preferences at any time or remove your information from the system.