CHARLESTON – A new mobile app is working to inform the local community and university students about events and emergencies.
Heads Up! Community works to inform the public and students about important events.
"What is so unique about this mobile app, is that the user can select the community or communities they wish to follow plus the type of subject matter they wish to follow," Butch Evans, vice president of marketing, said in an interview with The West Virginia Record. "The app was originally developed to provide emergency managers a large pool of mobile devices. The managers' current method is to request the user to go to a website and enter their cell number, name and address. The national average of this Opt-in method is around six percent. It appears that the public is not willing to provide personal information."
Evans
Evans said that after downloading the free Heads Up! mobile app, the user can select the state, county and/or city they wish to follow.
The user can then select the areas of interest they wish to follow.
"If the user does not have kids, they can uncheck the option to be notified about schools and children's events," Evans said. “Which empowers the user."
To prevent irrelevant material from being distributed, the city and or college assigns knowledgeable subject delegates to send out the messages.
Evans said the app is being marketed to more cities nationwide. Currently, in West Virginia, it's available for Cabell, Doddridge, Gilmer, Hancock, Jackson, McDowell, Putnam, Raleigh, Ritchie, Roane and Wayne counties, as well as Cottageville, Evans, Gay, Kenna, Millwood, Ravenswood, Ripley, Sandyville, Silverton and Nitro.
A university model is available that is branded with the school name and logo.
"This is a great way to keep parents, students, faculty and alumni aware of what is happening at their university," Evans said "We have two colleges in West Virginia that are using this model and several other community colleges and universities that are joining in the near future."
For more information about Heads Up! Community, go to www.headsupcommunity.com.