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ALERT Pinellas Emergency Notification Services

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1. What is ALERT Pinellas and why is it important?

ALERT Pinellas is an emergency notification service by which public safety managers can notify residents and businesses about emergencies in a variety of ways, including:

• Cellular phone
• Home phone
• Work phone
• Text message
• Email

The system is capable of sending messages only to specific neighborhoods or the entire community.  

2. Am I already included in the ALERT Pinellas database?

Only published, listed telephone numbers were automatically uploaded into the ALERT Pinellas database.

3. Do I need to create my own account?

Citizens and local businesses should create their own account to take advantage of the options that are available to the users of the service.

You can enter up to FOUR different phone numbers to be called, TWO numbers for text notifications, plus TWO email addresses.

You can also enter up to FIVE different locations to make sure you know about urgent news in the areas of Pinellas County that you care most about, such as home, work, relatives, schools, etc.

4. Can I change my options?

By creating your own account, you can change your options at any time.

5. How do they notifications work?

When a situation warrants notification to a neighborhood or the entire county, authorized system administrators will send notifications using the methods you have chosen when you created your own account.

6. What agencies will send notifications?

The ALERT Pinellas system is used by partner agencies throughout Pinellas County.  For example, you may receive a notice from Pinellas County Government, Local Municipalities (such as Oldsmar), or the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

7. When will ALERT Pinellas be used?

ALERT Pinellas will be used when emergency situations arise that you should know about.  Severe weather situations, missing persons, evacuation notices, fires, floods, major roadway issues, boil water notices, and active shooter situation are just a few examples of the types of situations that will necessitate an ALERT Pinellas notice.

8. Why do I need ALERT Pinellas when I have TV to keep me informed?

ALERT Pinellas provides an additional level of safety.  If the power goes out, you may not be able to depend on your TV.  However, because telephone lines are self-powered and most people now have cell phones, we can continue to keep you informed through messages delivered by ALERT Pinellas.  You should always have at least TWO ways of staying connected to receive urgent news.

9. What if my phone number or email address changes?

If your contact information changes, simply visit your profile and update your information.

10. How will I recognize an ALERT Pinellas message?

ALERT Pinellas messages will come from the phone number (727) 474-4222.

We suggest you program this number in your cell phone as a new contact and use 'ALERT Pinellas' as the contact name.

If you need to replay the emergency notification message, simply dial this number and you will be able to hear the message again.

11. What should I do if I receive an ALERT Pinellas message?

Listen carefully to the ENTIRE message.

It will be brief and will not repeat.  Follow the instructions given.  

You may receive a website address or a telephone number for further information.  

Do not hang up until you have heard the entire message or you might miss vital information.  

Do NOT CALL 9-1-1 for details.

12. If I have a cordless phone, it does not work when the power goes out. How am I going to get the ALERT Pinellas message?

There are two ways you can continue to receive telephone messages from Pinellas County through ALERT Pinellas.

1. Make sure you have at least ONE working corded telephone - and be sure the ringer is on.
2. Use the ALERT Pinellas online registration form to enter a PRIMARY phone number and an ALTERNATIVE phone number.  You can fill in the Alternative phone number with another contact number- such as your cell phone number or work number.  Entering in an Alternative phone number will cause calls to BOTH of the primary and alternate phone numbers.

13. Will ALERT Pinellas leave a message on a machine?

Yes, ALERT Pinellas will leave a message on a machine or on a voicemail.  Part of the ALERT Pinellas solution is the ability to recognize answering devices and leave the message completely in one pass. 

Also, if the line is busy, ALERT Pinellas will try again.

14. What circumstances might prohibit ALERT Pinellas from delivering a message to me?

1. If you have only cordless phones in your residence or business, the power is out and you have not registered an ALTERNATE phone number, ALERT Pinellas will not be able to contact you.
2. If your line is busy for an extended period and your calls do not forward to voicemail or an answering machine in a busy condition, ALERT Pinellas will stop calling your number.  It is best to have an ALTERNATE phone number in the calling database for these situations.
3. If you have a privacy manager on your main phone service, ALERT Pinellas will not be able to contact you unless you have registered an ALTERNATE phone number that will accept the call.

15. If a notification is sent out, is it guaranteed I will receive it if I register?

When the emergency notification is activated, the system will make several attempts to reach your registered numbers.  

Due to the emergency, phone systems (both landline and cell phone) may be inundated with calls and your provider may not be able to deliver the message. 

We do not assume legal responsibility for technical difficulties that may result in notification failures.

16. Will ALERT Pinellas cost me anything?

Pinellas County offers this service for FREE.

If you choose to receive a notice by text messages, your service provider's standard text messaging fees will apply.

17. Do I need to install software on my phone?

No.  The system uses industry standard SMS text messaging protocol to send messages to your phone.  

Your cell phone plan will need to accept text messages to work properly.

18. If I registered with ALERT Pinellas or a previous Emergency Notification System, do I need to register again?

YES.

Please register again even if you registered for ALERT Pinellas or other Emergency Notification Systems in the past.

This is an improved notification system that is used by Pinellas County, the Sheriff's Office, and municipalities.  

By creating a new account, you can benefit from the many notification options that are offered by ALERT Pinellas.