Why a Mass Notification System is Critical for Protecting Historic Landmarks and Structures
Kara Stamets, Senior Content Marketing Specialist, Alertus Technologies
Wildfires in Southern California have shown how intensely flames can spread within minutes, endangering communities, wildlife, and historic structures and landmarks. A mass notification system (MNS) helps organizations provide timely, critical updates regarding fire danger and evacuation procedures. This blog highlights why an MNS is essential for protecting visitors and employees at historic landmarks and minimizing the destruction of historic structures during natural disasters and human threats.
An MNS can provide early warning weather alerts concerning storms, floods, and wildfires that might threaten historic sites. Organizations can use Alertus Threatwatcher™ to receive real-time weather updates and site-specific warnings from the National Weather Service and Environment Canada. With early warning systems, evacuation orders can be distributed sooner via mobile apps, digital signage, and wide-area notification systems.
Landmarks located in known wildfire areas, flood zones, and earthquake-prone areas can prepare for disasters ahead of time by creating custom alerts that can be distributed to entire communities or targeted audiences in a matter of seconds when an emergency strikes.
Integrating an MNS with security cameras and access control also protects landmarks from human threats like vandalism, terrorism, and theft. An intrusion in a protected area or during off-hours can trigger real-time alerts that can be sent to law enforcement prompting them to head to the scene quickly.
After a disaster, an MNS is useful in delivering alerts to provide information regarding recovery efforts including structural inspections and artifact preservation. Historic landmarks may enforce restricted access due to fragile structures, water damage, and falling debris, for example, so an MNS can provide timelines for restoring historic sites and when structures are open to the public again.
Protecting historic landmarks is essential to uphold cultural, educational, environmental, and economic significance. These sites honor past generations and architectural legacy while attracting visitors to boost local businesses and communities. To continue inspiring future generations, various organizations, governments, and private entities should protect historic landmarks and structures with an MNS.
Contact us to learn more about the Alertus System and how we’ve helped organizations and government agencies across the U.S. protect historic sites and structures.