Whether you’re a longtime utility customer or someone who simply wants to keep up with what’s happening in the city, the City’s Alert Center is your direct link to timely, relevant updates. This tool helps you stay connected by allowing us to reach you through call, email, and  text.

While we’ve had the ability to send email and text notifications for years, our previous notification software did not have the ability to send targeted alerts, which made it impractical for sending notices about trash pickup delays and other issues that only affect a limited number of people. We also did not have the ability to send robocalls, which excluded many of our residents who still rely on landline phones for information.

Our new Alert Center is powered by the mass notification software Everbridge, which has the ability to filter notifications based on address, trash route and other information. This has allowed us to expand the types of alerts we offer while ensuring that our residents only receive alerts that matter to them. We’ve also collaborated with the Utility Billing Office to send information to their more than 22,000 residential customers, ensuring that crucial updates reach more residents than ever before. 

Keep in mind that the City Alert Center is not an emergency alert service. That’s where our Victoria Office of Emergency Management comes in with their CodeRed system, which supplements the Wireless Emergency Alerts from the National Weather Service and similar sources. In contrast, this means that we at the City won’t send you alerts about hurricanes, flash floods and other emergencies. Instead, the City Alert Center is used for sending alerts about City services, such as utilities, road closures and mosquito spraying, as well as certain nonemergency weather conditions.

Who should sign up for alerts?

The Alert Center is a helpful resource for anyone who’d like to keep up with what’s happening in Victoria. Utility customers will receive certain messages about their utility services by default, but even non-customers can benefit from staying informed about a wide variety of services and even optional signups for our breaking news releases.

Anyone can sign up regardless of where you live, so if you live in the county but still want to know about city road closures, you’re in luck. Keep in mind, though, that the City Alert Center alerts are solely about services within city limits.

In other words, if you live in the county and you receive a notification about mosquito spraying, know that it’s referring to the spraying conducted by Parks & Recreation in the city, not the spraying in the county (which is done by the Victoria County Public Health Department). Similarly, if you are on well water, you can disregard alerts about the water system.

How can I sign up for alerts?

If you are a utility customer, you will automatically receive alerts about Solid Waste and utility services. We use the contact information on file with your utility account, so if you haven’t received any alerts yet, contact the Utility Billing Office at 361-485-3400 and make sure that your contact information is up to date. We use the Utility Billing Office’s information to add new customers to the system, and keeping your information up to date with UBO helps ensure that it doesn’t get overwritten. 

If you are not a customer, visit www.victoriatx.gov/alertcenter to create your account.

Include your address to receive alerts based on where you live

A new feature that we’ve recently added is the ability for non-customers to add their addresses to their accounts (if you are a customer, we will use the address on your utility account). For example, if you’ve signed up to receive street sweeping alerts, entering your address will ensure that you only get notified when the sweepers are in your neighborhood.

Whether you’re a longtime utility customer or someone who simply wants to keep up with what’s happening in the city, the Alert Center is your direct link to timely, relevant updates. Don’t miss out—sign up today and stay informed. 

Stay connected

To sign up for the City’s Alert Center, and to view our list of FAQs, visit www.victoriatx.gov/alertcenter. If you still have questions, you can reach my office at communications@victoriatx.gov. 

Ashley Strevel is the director of Communications & Public Affairs for the City of Victoria.