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IRIS Command Overview

The Command Module allows agencies to send custom messages to your internal staff and associates via email and/or text messages, without the need for an IRIS Alert event to be active. Your system administrator manages authorized internal users, and assigns each membership in one or more groups.

  • The groups can be defined by agencies, units, events, or keywords. A user may belong to a group which is a department name (e.g. District 1 Maintenance). The user may also be associated with a word/phrase (e.g. Hurricane 2022). When internal messages are sent, they can be targeted for delivery to any/all of the defined groups.
  • Up to 50 groups will be accommodated at any one time.
  • Group names/keywords and their membership list can be archived. Archiving removes the current list of users and frees the groups/keywords for future use.

The Command Module includes an interface that allows authorized personnel to:

  • Create, manage and archive groups/keyword names and members;
  • Write custom messages for distribution to internal users;
  • Choose one or more groups to receive the message;

Internal Subscription Services: Keyword Text for Opt-In

The Command Module also offers the ability to have users opt-in to keyword-based groups by sending a specific message to a custom text number. This allows agencies to directly message individuals that do not have n Alerts accounts, and who may need to participate in event-based groups (e.g. Hurricane 2022). This feature is particularly useful when staff from partner agencies are involved with large-scale events or exercises. The same administrative interface described above is used to manage these opt-in keywords and to message personnel that opt-in for membership.

Iris screen
Iris screen
Iris screen

Event Chat

The Event Chat serves as an ongoing discussion board where agency users can post updates, questions, and other discussion items about an IRIS Alerts event - but none of the information will be visible to the public (functions to communicate with the public will remain available in a separate tab). All posts are date/time stamped, and marked with the ID of the user that entered them. The information from the Event Chat is saved as part of the system's after-action reports.

Iris event chat

Internal Only Events

The Command Module also allows agencies to create an internal only alert. This is an event in the IRIS Alerts system that is only visible to internal agency users. This function is intended to assist agencies in coordinating response communications during times when a public activation of the IRIS Alerts system might not be warranted.

The information from Internal-Only Events can be retained as part of the system's after-action reports.