City Launches Bilingual, Opt-In Emergency Health Alert Notifications

The City of Albuquerque’s Environmental Health Department is launching a new notification software, working with Rave Mobile Safety, to deliver real time health alerts to users who opt-in to receive the information. Text alerts are convenient and equitable, expanding access to urgent health information to more residents.

Environmental Health Director Ryan Mast said, “We understand the urgency of communicating time sensitive information that affects community health. By offering more ways for Burqueños to stay connected to urgent health information, we can help protect our residents.”

Community members can text “ABQHEALTH” to the number 226787 to opt into the English language list, or “ABQSALUD” to opt into the Spanish language list from any mobile phone. They will immediately receive a welcome message as well as instructions to Start or Stop message at any time. The service is free for those who enroll.

The text opt-in lists are intended for general health alerts that may affect the entire community, at a high priority level. Residents can sign up for updates on topics including:

• High levels of air pollutants, including smoke, blowing dust, and ozone;
• Food safety recalls or alerts;
• Hazardous material discharges; and
• Important infectious disease developments.