VB Alert FAQ
VBAlert is the City of Virginia Beach’s official emergency alert and
notification system. This system is used to send alerts to the public during
emergencies. VBAlert is a free service that allows you to sign up online to
receive customized alerts via text message, email, and voice message.
Why should I
sign-up for VBAlert?
When emergencies happen, be the first to know. The City of Virginia Beach
uses VBAlert to send official, real-time alerts to the public with information
about potentially life-saving actions they may need to take to keep themselves
and their families safe. By signing up for VBAlert, you are taking a large step
toward improving your personal safety.
When an emergency occurs that meets the criteria for sending out an alert
to the public, the City of Virginia Beach will gather the necessary information
and push out an alert to the affected area. Alerts can be sent out city-wide to
everyone who has opted-in to the system, or to a specific area or neighborhood
for more localized events.
This service is provided by the City of Virginia Beach at no cost to the
public; however, message and data rates may apply depending on your provider
and phone services.
Can you
guarantee that I will receive notification if I register?
While VBAlert is an excellent system, we cannot guarantee that you will
receive notification in all cases. Disasters and emergencies are chaotic and
unpredictable, and notification is dependent on external providers such as your
wireless carrier or email delivery service outside the City of Virginia Beach’s
control. VBAlert will use all the means of communications you register for to
try to ensure that should any one communications method, technology, or
delivery option be unavailable to reach residents, other methods will be used
to improve the likelihood that citizens will see the message.
Signing up
How do I
sign-up for VBAlert?
Signing up for VBAlert is easy! Go to www.vbgov.com/vbalert and register your contact information.
Who can
sign-up for VBAlert?
VBAlert is available to anyone who lives, works, travels through, or visits
the City of Virginia Beach. The address can be your home location, work
location, or any other location you care about.
Alerts
What types
of alerts will I receive?
Emergency alerts are sent 24/7 when there is an immediate threat to life
and/or property. These include notifications about:
Severe weather
Evacuations
Rabid animals
Hazardous material spills
Boil water advisories
Road closures
Traffic Disruptions
City announcements
Can I call
the alert phone number back or reply back to the email?
You are not able to reply to texts or emails sent by VBAlert. If you
have questions about an alert, please call the City of Virginia Beach’s 311
center at 311 or outside of Virginia Beach at (757) 385-3111.
When will I
start receiving alerts?
Once you have signed up online at www.vbgov.com/vbalert and confirmed your contact information within the system, you will
begin receiving alerts
How do I
update or remove my notification preferences and contact information used by
VBAlert?
Follow the below steps to change your VBAlert preferences (for
example, to reduce the number of messages of a certain type, or to change the
contacts used for each kind of message.)
1. Go to the login page for VBAlert www.vbgov.com/vbalert
2. Login using your VBAlert username and password (If you’ve forgotten
these, follow the instructions on the page under “Forgot Username or
Password?”)
3. Once signed in, click the ‘Preferences’ tab at the top
4. Under ‘Notification Preferences’, you can make changes to both the
phone numbers and email addresses on which you want to receive VBAlert
messages by clicking or unclicking the checkboxes
5. You can also choose what alerts you want to receive and the method you
wish to receive them by (text, voice, email)
How often
will I receive alerts?
The frequency for which you receive alerts depends on the addresses you
provide and the types of alerts you select to receive as well as the frequency
of actual emergencies. Emergency alerts will only be sent when there is an
immediate threat to life and/or property. Community notifications will be sent
when the criteria for sending an alert are met.
This system is not intended to bombard you with information. The City will
only send you alerts about the information you select to receive. To change
your alert settings, login to www.vbgov.com/vbalert and edit your preferences.
How does the
VBAlert system respond to busy signals or no-answer situations?
If a call completes and is sent to your answering machine or voice mail
system, a message is left. If a phone call is not answered or busy, the system
redials your number several times.
Privacy and Contact Information
Will my
information be disclosed or shared?
No, your information is private and will not be used or distributed in any
manner. The information that you provide is exempt from public disclosure and
will be used for emergency purposes only.
What
precautions are taken to protect personal contact information stored in the
VBAlert system?
Personal information provided to VBAlert is private and only used to
notify you for official City of Virginia Beach communications and to support
the City of Virginia Beach’s emergency services.
Your information is not used for marketing purposes and will not be sold to
telemarketers or data-mining organizations. A variety of “opt-in” mechanisms
are available to ensure you are getting just the messages you want to receive,
delivered via the devices and communications modes that you choose.
VBAlert utilizes the highest standards in physical and computer security
technologies and conducts regular audits to ensure all information is kept
secure. Privacy policies are also outlined in the Terms and Conditions you
review when you sign up to receive VBAlert notifications.