AtHoc delivers emergency notifications regardless of location

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jannelle Dickey
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
Barksdale Air Force Base, La. --  If severe weather approaches or a hazardous situation occurs, there is a system to alert and provide critical information to base personnel in a short period of time.

The AtHoc Installation Warning System is an internet- based program that sends out mass alerts during critical occurrences. Individuals across a wide variety of mediums can receive notifications such as severe weather, delays, closures and other emergencies to their computer, phone and email.

AtHoc has been providing notifications to bases across the Air Force for 10 years. Barksdale recently reinstalled the system and kicked off an enrollment campaign to increase numbers for the system to be used effectively.

"The goal of the enrollment campaign is to get base personnel enrolled in the system and reach 100 percent by Friday, May 22," said Maj. Johnathan Gunther, 2nd Bomb Wing Command Post chief.  "By providing both on- and off-duty contact information we can send alerts out at a moment's notice regardless if you are on- or off-base."

To register, change or add personal information right-click the purple globe icon at the bottom right hand corner of the screen and choose 'Access Self Service'.

Enrollment is important because notification recipients will be able to prepare immediately by taking appropriate actions to ensure their safety and others around them, added Senior Master Sgt. Lowell Bowen, 2BW Command Post superintendent. 

The system will utilize all means available to send personnel critical notifications such as active shooter, base closures or severe weather.

"AtHoc is not meant to be a system where we are going to pester you with a lot of notifications," said Gunther. "Only the most critical notifications are going to be sent to your home phone, email or cell phone via text."

The success of the system depends on how many enroll.

"If only a certain percentage of individuals are getting the alerts, it is not going to be a very effective system," said Gunther. "We want people to be able to take AtHoc seriously and trust we have your best interest in mind by only providing the most important notifications at the appropriate time."