MIN Launches Enhanced Features for Maryland’s Emergency Preparedness Text Alert System

MdReady subscribers can now opt into personalized communications by selecting preferred location and language

Baltimore – Maryland Information Network (MIN) is excited to announce enhancements to its MdReady program. MdReady is the emergency preparedness text alert system MIN manages in partnership with the Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM). These enhancements will allow faster message delivery and a customized subscriber experience with translation in 185 languages and county-specific emergency alerts. Maryland is the first state to offer this many individual language preferences in an emergency alert system.

MIN, the nonprofit powering 211 Maryland, has a long history of leveraging technology to help connect Maryland residents to the information that they need from community-based resources to mental health support to emergency preparedness. It has partnered with MDEM on the MdReady (English) and MdListo (Spanish) since February 2020. Participants in this program can opt in to receive alerts related to local emergencies, extreme weather, and public health and safety alerts. With the enhanced technology, subscribers will receive more personalized information by selecting preferences for language and location.  

In an emergency like a flash flood, water levels can rise several feet in a matter of minutes, so every second counts. MIN now will be able to reach its current MdReady subscribers (nearly 200,000 Marylanders) in just over six minutes. To deliver this crucial information faster and provide an enhanced user experience, MIN has adopted Convey911 technology, a cloud-native managed communications platform. This platform also offers streamlined messaging capabilities, significantly boosting operational efficiency and allowing messages to reach subscribers faster. 

“MIN is excited about what these enhancements mean for the MdReady program. By providing faster alerts in participants’ preferred languages, we can make sure people are getting this information in a timely and accessible way, potentially saving lives,” said Chris Benzing, CEO of MIN. “This adoption represents a major step forward in our mission to provide reliable, efficient, and inclusive emergency messaging solutions to the residents of Maryland.”

Russell J. Strickland, secretary of MDEM, added, “We are proud of our partnership with the Maryland Information Network and proud to bring these enhancements to the MdReady program. By offering alerts in multiple languages and tailoring them to specific communities, we’re ensuring that critical information reaches every Marylander in a timely, accessible way. In an emergency, clear and fast communication can make all the difference, and this upgrade will help save lives, improve safety across the state, and help ensure we leave no one behind.” 

To update user preferences, individuals can visit 211md.org/about/text-messages/mdready, visit Md.gov/alerts or text the words MdReady to 211-631. Users will be prompted to set their preferences throughout the opt-in process. Subscribers will then receive tailored text messages based on their location and language selection, providing personalized information during critical situations.

About Maryland Information Network (MIN):

Maryland Information Network (MIN) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that uses information and technology to connect Maryland residents to the health and human services they need to achieve a more stable life for themselves and their families. The MdReady program promptly dispatches text alerts regarding extreme weather advisories and flood warning, as well as crucial mitigation, relief, and recovery resources.

About Maryland Department of Emergency Management (MDEM):

MDEM is a national leader in emergency management that provides Maryland residents, organizations, and emergency management partners with expert information, programmatic activities, and leadership in the delivery of financial, technical and physical resources “to shape a resilient Maryland where communities thrive.” MDEM does this by being Mar​yland’s designated source of official risk reduction and consequence management information.