Mathews County residents are being encouraged to sign up for a new emergency notification system and a new 911 system now in effect in the county.

According to a press release from the Mathews County Sheriff’s Office, the RAVE and Smart 911 systems are now available to all county residents. Together, they replace the CODE RED system the county previously used. They are free to the public.

The two systems provide “critical communication when it matters the most,” said the release.

Residents who sign up for RAVE will receive notifications from local authorities designed to keep the public informed of critical events, including potentially hazardous weather conditions, road closures, traffic issues, Gwynn’s Island bridge events, and any other event that could potentially be considered an emergency situation.

Sign up for RAVE at https://www.smart911.com/smart911/ref/reg.action?pa=mathewscountyva.

Smart 911 is designed to enable emergency dispatchers to provide critical info...