Eastwick residents can now be more connected to severe weather information from the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) before, during, and after a severe storm.
Eastwick Alerts, part of OEM’s free ReadyPhiladelphia emergency alert system, is a pilot program that messages residents and businesses specific to the Eastwick neighborhood. It is designed to bring awareness of upcoming storms that may result in flooding, notify them when flooding does occur, when the storm has passed, and any recovery information. OEM worked with residents and partners, like the Office of Sustainability, to ensure this system included information the community desired in order to make informed decisions to help them reduce the impacts of flooding.
It was crucial to OEM that this system be developed to meet the needs of those who live and work in Eastwick. OEM worked with contractors to create a thoughtful initiative that reached out to residents via phone, door to door, and focus groups to collect information on what they needed and wanted from this messaging system.
The program was made possible by a city Operations Transformation Fund grant secured by OEM’s Operations Division. It is another layer of growing emergency information and contact to the public by the department’s Alert and Warning program. Recently, OEM expanded emergency messaging through multiple languages, including American Sign Language.
What is a place-based message system?
A place-based message system is made up of details that have been specifically tailored to a hazard affecting a neighborhood or smaller area. The purpose is to notify the people who live, work, or have family in that area so they are aware of the potential hazard, have information on how to prepare, respond, and recover from that event.
Why was Eastwick chosen for the pilot program?
Eastwick was identified as an area within Philadelphia that has been impacted by the same reoccurring hazard, flooding. OEM identified a need by speaking with residents to create and send messaging that would help Eastwick residents to prepare for, respond to, and recover from flooding events.
What type of information will the Eastwick Alerts messages include?
The Eastwick Alerts messaging system will provide residents with information related to possible and current flooding events in the neighborhood. The messaging system will not be used to inform residents of other hazards, events, or incidents that occur in the neighborhood.
How do I sign up for these alerts?
Enrolling is easy and quick. To sign up for the Eastwick Alerts you will need to create a ReadyPhiladelphia account or update your current account here.
Once you create your account, select Eastwick from the subscription options to opt to receive Eastwick Alerts.
It is important to note that you will not automatically receive these alerts if you are currently signed up for ReadyPhiladelphia, including if you enrolled by texting READYPHILA to 888-777.
If you’re not an Eastwick resident but would like to receive these alerts, you can do so.
If you have any issues signing into your account or opting into the Eastwick subscription you can email warn.oem@phila.gov for assistance.
Will I receive a message every time it rains in Eastwick?
No, the Eastwick Alerts have been designed to only notify the public when there is a storm that has the potential to result in flooding. Thresholds have been identified based on past flooding events so that the Eastwick Alerts messages are only sent out when there is an actual flooding threat. Those enrolled in the Eastwick Alerts system should not expect to receive messages prior to every rainstorm.
When and how many messages should I expect to receive from the Eastwick Alerts?
When OEM receives communication from the National Weather Service that a storm with the potential to cause flooding has been identified, OEM will begin messaging via the Eastwick Alerts. Those signed up to receive the alerts should expect to receive at least one message per day prior to, during, and after the storm has passed. Once the storm has passed and there is no longer any possibility for flooding OEM will stop the messages.
Will I receive any information or messages after a rainstorm that does cause flooding?
OEM will continue to send messages through the Eastwick Alerts as long as resources are needed due to a flooding event. If property damage occurs as a result of flooding OEM has the capability to send response and recovery information through Eastwick Alerts.
