Purpose Statement

This article explains how to manage and customize notification settings within Community Connect. It enables users to control how and when they receive alerts via SMS and email, ensuring timely and relevant communication from their fire department and community.

Background Information

Community Connect provides multiple notification types to keep users informed about important updates, including general department communications, weather alerts, community events, and critical emergency alerts.

With the addition of SMS text messaging, users now have greater flexibility in how they receive notifications. All notification types can be individually customized, allowing users to tailor alerts based on their preferences and needs.

Required Permissions

• Community Connect user account
• Access to personal profile and notification settings
• Verified email address and/or mobile phone number for notifications

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Step-by-Step Guide

1. Access Community Connect

1. Navigate to the Community Connect login page.
   

    

2. Enter your credentials and sign in.
   

2. Open Notification Settings

1. Locate the bell icon in the upper-right corner of the screen.
   
    
2. Click the bell icon to open Alert Settings.

3. Enable or Disable SMS/Email Notifications

1. Locate the SMS Text/Email Messaging alert types at the top of the settings.
   
    
2. Toggle the switch:
   • On to enable SMS/Email notifications
     
      
   • Off to disable all SMS/Email notifications
     

4. Customize Notification Types

1. Review the available notification categories:
   • General Notifications
   • Weather Alerts
   • Community Events
   • Alert Notifications (critical/emergency alerts)
2. Toggle each category on or off based on your preferences.
3. Repeat the same customization for Email Notifications if desired.

5. Manage SMS Opt-Out (Carrier-Level)

1. If receiving unwanted texts, reply STOP to any Community Connect message.
   • This disables SMS notifications through your mobile carrier.
2. To re-enable SMS:
   • Toggle SMS back on in Alert Settings.
     
      
   • Follow the prompt to text START to the provided number.
     
     
      
   • Return to settings and confirm SMS is enabled.

Best Practices

• Enable Alert Notifications to ensure you receive critical emergency updates.
• Customize notifications to avoid alert fatigue while staying informed.
• Use both SMS and Email for redundancy on high-priority alerts.
• Periodically review settings to ensure they align with your current preferences.
• Avoid disabling all notifications unless absolutely necessary.

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Q: Why am I not receiving SMS notifications?
A: Ensure SMS is enabled in settings and that you have not opted out via your carrier (STOP message). If so, text START to re-enable.

Q: I turned on SMS but still don’t get messages. What should I do?
A: Confirm your phone number is correct and verified in your profile. Also check carrier restrictions.

Q: What happens if I reply STOP to a message?
A: This disables SMS notifications at the carrier level, not just within Community Connect.

Q: Can I receive only certain types of notifications?
A: Yes, each notification category can be individually toggled on or off.

Q: Are email and SMS settings separate?
A: Yes, you can configure them independently based on your preferences.