Fairfax City Expands Alerts For Police Activity, Traffic And Emergencies

FAIRFAX CITY, VA — Fairfax City Police will expand its use of the city's emergency notification system later this month to provide residents with more information about police activity and other public safety issues.

Beginning Sept. 28, police will use Fairfax City Alert, powered by Everbridge, to send notifications about incidents that could affect residents, businesses and visitors, according to the department.

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The alerts may include information about steps people should take during an incident, such as avoiding an area or taking other precautions.

Fairfax City Alert will supplement information distributed through the Police Department's website, social media accounts, news releases and other communication channels. Alerts may also direct recipients to those platforms for additional details and updates.

Police said the expanded system will be used for significant public safety emergencies requiring immediate public awareness or action, as well as police activity affecting a particular neighborhood or area.

Alerts may also be issued for missing or endangered people when police are seeking assistance from the community.

Traffic notifications will cover significant road closures, crashes and other incidents that could affect travel. Police also plan to use the system to distribute news releases, community bulletins and other public safety information.

Because officers may still be responding when an initial alert is sent, the first notification could contain limited information, police said. Additional details may be released through Fairfax City Alert or another official communication platform as an incident develops.

Residents, businesses and others can sign up for Fairfax City Alert and choose which types of notifications they want to receive at www.fairfaxva.gov/FairfaxCityAlert.Add a stronger sign-up call to actionTrim repeated alert-system language