Why not putting your public safety division online is putting you behind

The Internet is an obvious destination for anyone looking to start a business. Many times, planning around web-branding is now one of the first steps towards starting a business. However, what about web development for the Public Safety domain? What about for small or volunteer organizations that cannot afford an IT Program?

The truth is, your department cannot afford to not to venture onto the internet. In reality, the cost for setting up, running, and developing a low cost but professional website for your department is minimal, often less than $200 a year. That is a significant investment in public education and communications.

I run the website for Chelan County Fire District 1, an suburban/rural fire department in Central Washington serving the unincorporated areas around Wenatchee and the hamlet of Malaga. The department is able to provide residents with critical public education information, briefings on regulations, preparedness, and, in the case of significant emergencies, provide reliable updates including mobile text alerts. All for a few hours of setup and about $200 a year.

The Internet, and social media, are new frontiers for smaller departments. There is apprehension in diving into the WorldWideWeb, from virus and security threats, to concerns over moderating user commentary. However, these are optional avenues to venture into. Sites can be setup to limit and filter interaction but still provide the information that is necessary.

WordPress is the Key

For a smaller organization, using WordPress as a Content Management platform is smart. It is highly customizable, has a wide variety of pre-made site templates, thousands of free add-ons, and is easy to use. WordPress even has SMS capabilities, for SMS alerts, which can provide subscribers information about an incident, evacuation, or weather in a moments notice.

While this is just a brief overview of why any department or organization should budget for internet, regardless of size, the value created is priceless.

If you are a public safety organization or department, and are interested in what the internet can do for you and your citizens, contact me at brad@bradlymcgarr.com, as I do consultations and contract services.