Elche to Launch Mobile Alerts for Emergency Notifications

Elche City Council has developed the municipal alert system 'Alerta Elche', a tool that allows, through an SMS messaging platform, alerts to be sent to the mobile phones of residents registered in the census.

"In the event of any serious risk or emergency situation, residents will receive an alert message on their mobile phone with essential and direct information, directing them to the link www.elche.es/SOS to verify the accuracy of the data and the measures to be taken," stated Mayor Pablo Ruz. The system currently has around 100,000 mobiles registered through the census.

However, in the coming days, a campaign will be launched to explain to citizens how to register their phone and join the municipal alert system to receive information in the event of any climatic, seismic, or forest emergency. "The goal of this system is to react in time," the mayor emphasized. Additionally, he explained that the idea is to be able to locate the phones of people in Elche at a given moment via satellite to warn of an emergency.

Ruz explained that in the coming weeks, the street alarm system will be defined, complemented by training and drills, "which will allow us to know what to do or not to do in an emergency situation."

In this regard, the mayor highlighted the commitment to safety and the implementation of measures to mitigate the impact of an emergency and informed about the installation of cameras to permanently and in real-time monitor the flow of ravines in the urban section.

Thus, this system allows for immediate reaction to any flooding or inundation risk. Specifically, three cameras have been installed in municipal spaces around the San Antón ravine, the most important in Elche: in the Jubalcoy area; at its crossing with the Vía Parque; and in the area of the South ring road/EL-20.

These cameras operate with solar panels, and the images are directly controlled from Emergencies and the Local Police of Elche. "We committed a few weeks ago to the monitoring of the ravines, and we deliver," Ruz indicated. Following San Antón, more cameras will be implemented in the other ravines of Elche in the coming months.

The cost of the monitoring system is covered by the Telecommunications Department of Elche City Council and amounts to 9,000 euros.