Case Study: St. Clair County, Michigan achieves real-time cross-border notifications and enhanced situational awareness with Everbridge

St. Clair County Emergency Management uses Everbridge COG to COG messaging during the CAUSE IV Experiment

St. Clair County Emergency Management, responsible for the cross‑border "Blue Water" area between Michigan and Ontario, faced a key communications challenge: notifications were not delivered in real time across the U.S.–Canada border, hampering rapid response for first responders and citizens during incidents. As a participant in the CAUSE IV experiment, the county sought a seamless, inclusive system to improve cross‑border situational awareness and notification speed.

The county deployed Everbridge, using cross‑border notification groups and COG‑to‑COG messaging (a beta bridge between U.S. IPAWS and Canada’s NAADS) to send real‑time alerts and GIS links to 911/211, weather spotters, social media and critical users. This shortened notification times, improved information‑sharing and coordination with Ontario’s Lambton County (used during the Flint Water Crisis), and delivered faster, more complete situational awareness for responders and residents on both sides of the border.

St. Clair County Michigan

Jeffrey A. Friedland

HSEM Director