OCFS NY-Alert is a system that enables OCFS to efficiently notify its employees of an impending emergency and provide timely information. Messages can be received via cell phone (text and/or voice), telephone, email, and/or fax. The system is pre-populated with the emergency contact information you provided, however participants are strongly encouraged to sign into the system , and choose the format they would like to receive messages in. Authorized OCFS personnel administer the OCFS NY-Alert system. They can send emergency messages, warnings and post-incident information, whenever needed.

NY-Alert is New York State Office of Emergency Management (OEM) ’s all hazard and notification system that allows individuals the option of choosing to receive automatic notifications in the case of statewide weather events, road closures in your area, missing persons reports known as Amber or Silver Alerts or other emergency situations such as hazardous material spills. You can check a box to indicate the type of notification as well as the geographical areas about which you wish to receive notices. The OCFS NY-Alert is a private-use implementation of NY-Alert. OCFS NY-Alert notification alerts are only available to the OCFS community. Please note that OCFS-NY-Alert is a separate portal. OCFS Employees will only be contacted through OCFS NY-Alert in the event of a work related emergency OCFS employees are encouraged to sign up for NY-Alert

OCFS-NY-Alert notifications can be distributed via email, phone, fax and text messaging. Employees can designate the method(s) by which they wish to receive notifications. It is recommended that employees select more than one method. Please note that text messaging is the least reliable notification choice.

OCFS NY-Alert notifications can only be initiated by appropriate OCFS personnel. All messages will be approved by the Commissioners’ Office prior to transmitting.

Signing up is easy. Just click on the “REGISTER HERE” red button on the OCFS NY-Alert home page and fill in the required contact information in the form provided under the “Create a New Account” banner.

Yes. Employees are responsible for keeping their contact information current. Simply log in and edit your profile. You are encouraged to update this information as your contact information changes. OCFS-NY-Alert’s ability to contact you in an emergency is only as reliable as the information you provide.

Yes. OCFS NY-Alert has been incorporated into the agency’s Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) formally known as our Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and will be the primary source of contacting employees in the event of an emergency event.

The information you provide will only be used to contact you in the event of an emergency or a testing of the system. This information will not be shared or used for any other unauthorized purpose.

OCFS will use a combination of software and hardware related security to protect your information from unauthorized disclosure

OCFS NY-Alert will augment OCFS’ current means of emergency notification, which includes emails, telephone trees, public address systems, website, and television/radio announcements.

Please consult with your wireless carrier for information regarding any charges that may apply.

Any situation in which the health and/or safety of OCFS employee(s) is in question constitutes an "Emergency". Alerts could also include building closures, government shutdown or any circumstances where prompt notification it is in the interest of OCFS employees and the State.

OCFS-NY-Alert will call each cell or telephone number registered up to three times. As enrollees can register up to three phone numbers, this means that OCFS-NY-Alert can try to call the enrollee up to a maximum of 9 times. When a call is answered, and the person answering presses a number (to confirm they are not an answering machine), OCFS-NY-Alert will consider the enrollee contacted and not make any further attempts to send the notification.

The phone number displayed will be 518-292-6634 and should have a caller ID of “ NYAlert.” You may wish to program this number into your telephone so you can easily identify this call.

OCFS-NY-Alert will leave a voice mail message for you to return the call by dialing 518-292-6634 to retrieve the message. If you call this number, you will be asked to enter the phone number at which you received the notification (for verification). If it is valid, you will then be played the OCFS NY-Alert notification. Only the most recent notification will be available for retrieval.

Yes. You can follow the same steps outlined above for retrieving a voice mail message to replay the message.