Mineral Wells Area News

By Gary Norman | Mineral Wells Area News

MINERAL WELLS, Texas — Mineral Wells residents now have a new way to stay informed during emergencies, water outages, road closures and other urgent situations.

The city has launched Well Aware, a free public notification system that delivers important alerts directly to residents through text messages, emails and phone calls.

Rosealee Hoffman, the city’s marketing and communications manager, said the system addresses a longstanding challenge of reaching residents quickly when critical information needs to be shared.

“Facebook has been our only real method of reaching residents, but it’s not reliable for urgent notifications,” Hoffman said. “People don’t always see posts in their feeds, even if they follow the page.”

How to sign up

Residents can register through the city’s website at mineralwellstx.gov, where a link on the homepage directs users to the Well Aware registration page.

Registration takes only a few minutes. Residents provide their name, address, phone number and email address, then select their preferred notification methods and alert categories.

The city is also distributing QR codes at locations throughout Mineral Wells to make registration easier.

Residents who need assistance can contact Hoffman at 940-452-4804 or visit the city’s Public Works office at 115 SW First St.

There is no cost to participate, and residents remain enrolled unless they choose to opt out.

What alerts will residents receive?

Well Aware is intended specifically for urgent and time-sensitive information, including severe weather warnings, water service interruptions, planned road closures and critical city operations updates.

The system will not be used for routine announcements, community events or promotional messages.

“We don’t want people’s phones blowing up all night,” Hoffman said. “We’re keeping this channel strictly for urgent information.”

Routine city news will continue to be shared through the city’s website, social media pages and a new newsletter called Well-Informed.

Improving communication with residents

Hoffman, who joined the city approximately two months ago, identified improved public communication as a priority after reviewing the City Council’s strategic plan.

She said the city recognizes that not all residents rely on social media for information, making additional communication methods essential.

The Well Aware registration campaign will continue through Jan. 1, although residents can enroll at any time throughout the year.

“Mass notification systems only work if you have lots of people registered and you stick with it,” Hoffman said. “This is a marathon, not a sprint.”

Beyond emergency notifications, Hoffman hopes to strengthen communication between City Hall and residents through the city’s Citizens Academy and quarterly community conversations with City Manager Jason Weeks beginning in January.

“Communication is not a one-way street,” Hoffman said. “The biggest obstacle to communication is the illusion that it has taken place. If we’re just shouting at the public without listening back, we’re not really communicating.”

Residents are encouraged to register for Well Aware now to ensure they receive important notifications when emergencies or other urgent situations arise.