Niles upgrades text messaging system, residents encouraged to opt-in

NILES, Mich. -- The City of Niles has upgraded its text messaging system to better serve those who want to receive information from the city.

There are two lists available for anyone interested.

Text NILESCITY to 555888 to received public safety, public works and utility updates.

Text NILESFUN to 555888 to receive fun, educational activities and events happening in the city.

Regardless of which list you sign up for, everyone who signs up will receive Major Emergency Alerts for emergency situations like the recent flooding.

City Administrator Ric Huff encourages all city residents to sign up to receive text messages.

“Our goal with this system is to eventually have most of the residential households signed up. We’ve found that there is a surge in people opting into the service after a significant event. In some cases one neighbor asks another, ‘How did you know when the power was coming back on?’ Once the neighbor realizes how much community information they are missing - the neighbor signs up too. In a sustained power outage, sometimes a cell phone is the only way to get local news, weather and other information," Huff said in a press release.

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