Just in case anyone is interested, we are using WordPress, running on an AEA server. Individuals can subscribe via email or SMS. We have a few plug-ins set up to make this solution work for us. The first is called WP-Mail-SMTP, which was needed to allow us to bypass the wp_mail function to utilize our own SMTP server to send mail, so that the WP server was not trying to send the mail directly. The second plug-in was called Subscribe2 and is used for email notification of subscribers. The third is called EasySMS (and the EasySMS Widget), which are used to allow the SMS functionality via most cellular providers that allow standard texting to their subscribers. We also supplement this with a recorded message via our telephone system which customers can call to hear the status of weather related closings. This is very similar to the Internet Outages line that is offered by Scott's team.
Brent Gerzema, one of our AEA technicians, researched the solutions and set up the site. It's been working very well for us but as Scott mentioned, if the server were to go down or we lose Internet connectivity, the alerts would not be sent. Thanks, Mike _________________________________ Mike Schmidt Network Administrator Prairie Lakes AEA 8 1235 5th Avenue South Fort Dodge, IA 50501 phone: 515-574-5500 ext 2115 fax: 515-574-5336 This email and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to whom they are addressed. If you are not the named addressee you should not disseminate, distribute or copy this e-mail. You are asked to notify the sender immediately by e-mail if you have received this e-mail by mistake and delete this e-mail from your system. Please note that any views or opinions presented in this email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency. Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted by this email. From: Scott Fosseen Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 1:44 PM To: info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us Subject: Re: [info-tech] Snowcap We are doing our alerts in-house. I did not have much to do with the setup, but it does seem to work well. Our site is http://resources.aea8.k12.ia.us/alerts What I know is that it is Wordpress with an add-on to "Subscribe by SMS". The benefit is that when alerts are triggered the server only processes the subscribers to our alerts. The bad news is that if the server goes down, or we loose Internet connectivity alerts will not go out. Although our server is on backup generator and linked to two separate ISPs. If you want more details let me know and I will see if I can get them on the list. From: Frerichs, Chad Sent: Monday, January 25, 2010 12:33 PM To: info-tech@aea8.k12.ia.us Subject: [info-tech] Snowcap We experienced yet more Snowcap issues today even after they promised it was fixed. I am wondering if others experienced the same issues. I am also wondering what service the AEA uses because that seems to work. Thanks, Chad Frerichs Director of Technology Okoboji Community Schools
