SULPHUR — With hurricane season less than two weeks away, Mayor Chris Duncan is encouraging residents to sign up for the city’s alert system.

Duncan said the system, which has been in use for almost three years, can be helpful during hurricanes and other disasters.

“If a natural disaster happened, and really it could happen any day not just during hurricane season, the Blackboard system would keep residents updated and notify them when they can come home,” he said. “We have also used the system for other times when we needed to let residents know about a water leak or something similar.”

Duncan said the system was also used to alert residents after an armed robbery suspect fled into a nearby neighborhood.

“It’s beneficial for everyone to sign up,” he said. “We can make sure that people in an affected area know what’s happening.”

The system distributes alerts through text messages, phone calls and email.

Duncan said the system is also used to update residents on activities going on in the city, like festivals, movies in the square and parades.

“A few months ago we updated the system at no cost and that included being able to just send out an email on events that are going on,” he said. “We’ve gotten great response since we have been able to do that.”

Duncan said the system has 8,266 phone numbers, 976 emails and 604 text messaging accounts signed up.

To sign up for the system, go to the city’s website at www.sulphur.org and click on the button labeled “sign up now Blackboard Connect.”

Sulphur Mayor Chris Duncan. (American Press Archives)

Karen Wink