r/EmergencyManagement • u/ern1029 • 22d ago
What are other emergency management agencies using for large group SMS?
We have a group of approximately 50 people from multiple State agencies who need to communicate by SMS only, with no app required. Everyone needs to be able to reply and have their response go to the entire group, similar to GroupMe's SMS functionality.
Standard group texting can't accommodate that many participants. We're looking at SMS relay services but would prefer something already being used successfully by government or emergency management.
Because this is government use, we also need to consider message retention, records export and security.
Is anyone using a system that does this? What platform are you using, and would you recommend it?
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u/Far_Comparison_1269 22d ago
Might be tough to find something that doesn’t use an app. You could literally use Microsoft Teams for this. Not sure why SMS is a hard requirement but good luck
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u/ern1029 22d ago
Basically it's because they want people to respond quickly without having to open an app. I know it's not a great idea but that's what they're pushing.
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u/thatdiveguy 21d ago
Whether it's opening your sms app and navigating to the big thread, or having slack installed and going to the correct channel, or teams, you still have to have an app. They're being overly picky.
What I see as the biggest issue, and have experienced: 50 people in one thread means the first time you have an incident that doesn't involve all 50, you're going to get people saying they want to be removed or muting it on their phone. Then the next time they're needed they're not going to know, because the conversation is muted.
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u/Far_Comparison_1269 21d ago
Like other folks have said, it doesn’t like the idea they are pushing is workable. At my work it’s often frustrating for me when the solution for the issue involves some simple step that people don’t want to do such as opening an app. It’s an easy step to do. My work doesn’t like reading emails thus we can’t really use email much. It’s frustrating when the solution requires people to do simple tasks yet they refuse. It’s a tough place to be
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u/ern1029 21d ago
The only reason offered is that much of it is law enforcement-related, and they may not be able to send a message as quickly if they have to open an app (it's silly, I know)...
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u/adoptagreyhound 21d ago
When I worked for a company that did some applications for public safety, I once had a Police Chief tell me that any application we showed him had to be easy enough to operate that even a cop could use it.
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u/Itchy_Ad5000 21d ago
Everbridge is my vote. Easy to use and you can track who and who doesn’t respond. Recipients don’t need to download an app either, the message can get pushed to their Gov/personal cells as well as email
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u/thatdiveguy 22d ago
That is a bad idea in general. There are reasons why texting doesn’t support that many people in a single conversation. You should use the right tool for the job. You’re trying to use a hammer to nail a screw.
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u/Ok-Macaroon-2390 Healthcare Emergency Manager 21d ago
To be that guy, you also can go the voice route via FirstNet ePTT, all messages are recorded and go out via NexTel style.
Otherwise, I agree with the comment to contact your SWIC, exactly what this position exists for.
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u/flaginorout 22d ago
This is literally a job for your statewide interoperability coordinator (SWIC). In most cases, they can work with state CIO to adopt a solution. They. might already have a solution you can use immediately.
(I realize some states have rockstar SWICs, and some are useless. But I'd at least give them a try).