Stay Informed With Hyper-Reach

(This article is first in the series of helping Barbour County residents prepare better for the possibility of severe weather and other kinds of emergencies and natural disasters.)

In Barbour County, Office of Emergency Management relies on the Hyper-Reach system to keep citizens informed during emergencies. Hyper-Reach is mass messaging system that sends out alerts via phone calls, texts, and emails to notify residents about severe weather, evacuation orders, road closures, and more.

Here’s what you need to do to stay connected:

Sign up – If you haven’t already, see the multiple ways of signing up below. Make sure all members of your household are registered to receive alerts. We have the ability to provide a message over your home landline phone, but any other device has to be signed up by you.

Stay charged – Keep your phone fully charged ahead of any predicted storm and have a backup power bank ready to recharge it if needed.

Follow alerts – When an alert comes through, follow the instructions carefully and stay tuned for further updates. Hyper-Reach will provide real-time information to help you stay safe.

Signing up for Hyper-Reach is quick, easy, and free. Here are the methods you can use to enroll:

Text or Call: Simply text the word "Alerts" to 304-823-4570, or call the same number to sign up. This method allows you to receive alerts via phone call or text message.

Online Registration: Visit the Hyper-Reach sign-up page at http://hyper-reach.com/wvbarboursignup.html to register. This option lets you customize your alert preferences and choose how you'd like to receive notifications and what notifications are important to you.

Alexa Devices: For those with Amazon Alexa, you can enable Hyper-Reach by saying, "Alexa, Enable Hyper-Reach." This feature allows you to receive voice alerts directly through your Alexa-enabled device, ensuring you never miss an important notification.

Use the QR Code: Use your smart phone to scan the QR Code to send you to the sign-up.