Alert Gaithersburg is an emergency notification system that immediately contacts subscribers during a major crisis or emergency. Alert Gaithersburg can deliver important emergency alerts, notifications and updates to several electronic devices simultaneously, including multiple e-mail accounts (work, home, etc.), cell phones, text pagers, and wireless PDA’s.

When an incident or emergency occurs, authorized senders will instantly notify subscribers with instructions on where to go, what to do, or what not to do, who to contact and other important information. This system also allows emergency messages from Montgomery County’s Homeland Security Department to be sent via the Alert Gaithersburg system.

While automatically receiving emergency messages from the City of Gaithersburg and Montgomery County Government, subscribers to Alert Gaithersburg may also opt to receive messages regarding traffic and weather emergencies from Montgomery County.

Please note that while signing up for Alert Gaithersburg is free of charge, an individual’s wireless carrier may charge a fee to receive text messages. Subscribers are encouraged to check their wireless service agreements for details.

Alert Gaithersburg complements myGaithersburg, the City’s weekly e-mail-only news service. While Alert Gaithersburg is reserved for crisis-only situations, myGaithersburg provides comprehensive cultural and leisure event listings, program cancellations due to weather, job postings, bid opportunities, meeting minutes and notifications, and much more.

The new alert system was made possible by a grant from the Department of Homeland Security through the Washington Council of Governments. The system is part of a wider regional Roam Secure Network.

To subscribe to Alert Gaithersburg please visit http://alert.gaithersburgmd.gov. For more information please contact the City Manager’s Office at 301-258-6310 or cityhall@gaithersburgmd.gov.

If you have any concerns about bioterrorism we encourage you to call the County Bioterrorism Information Line at 240-777-4200.

Other Important links:

• Gaithersburg-Washington Grove Fire Department
• American Red Cross
• American Red Cross Family Disaster Planning
• Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA)
• Prescription Discount Card Program

• West Nile Virus Information