Add a Public Contact

  • Published on Feb 23, 2026
  • 2 minute(s) read
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A Public Contact is a member of the public who can receive alerts from your jurisdiction sent through our Mass Notification system (formerly CivicReady). This article will show you how to add a public contact.

Important Notes

  • Public contacts should opt-in to the system through the sign-up page, the MyAlerts app, or text to join. Manually adding public contacts should be reserved for migrating users to the system and rare exceptions.

  • If a user texts in to join using a keyword, their phone number will be added to the system. If their phone number is not already in the system, they will be added as a contact with Text-To-Join listed as their last name and their phone number listed as their first name.

  • myAlerts app users do not have a public contact visible to admins in the system as no personal information is collected from this application other than the optionally-shared location of the mobile device running the application.

  • To add bulk contacts, view our Contact List Upload and Download article or contact your Customer Success Manager. If you don't know who your Customer Success Manager is, then you can contact Support.

Instructions

  1. Sign in to the system if you have not already

  2. Click the Resources dropdown in the navigation menu, then select the Manage Directories optionThe Resources section of the navigation menu with Manage Directories selected.

  3. Click the Public Contacts option Public Contacts selected under the Manage Directories section in the left navigation menu.

  4. Click the Add Contact button The Add Contact button on the public contacts page.

  5. Fill in the basic information fields Form fields for adding a new contact, including user type and language options.

    • User Type: Select 'Public' from the drop-down list

    • First/Last Name (required): The first and last name of the user

    • Written Language: The user's preferred written language

    • Spoken Language: The user's preferred spoken language

    Note:

    Any comments needed

  6. Add Contact Information for the user Contact information tab showing email and phone number options for a contact.

    • Email Addresses: The user's email address

    • Phone Numbers: Add phone numbers for the user Contact information options including mobile, pager, business, and home phone fields.

      • Mobile Phone: The user's mobile phone, which will be used for text messages and/or voice calls; an area code must be included with all phone numbers

        • Provider: The phone provider is now optional and is automatically identified

      • Pager/2nd Cell: A text-only device that can be a second cell phone or a pager

        • Provider: The phone provider is now optional and is automatically identified

      • Business Phone: The user's business phone number

      • Home Phone: The user's home phone number

  7. Navigate to the Contact Location tab and click Add New AddressThe Contact Location tab with an Add New Address button highlighted.

  8. Search for and select an address or use the map to select a location Add location screen with the option to search for an address on a map.

  9. Click SaveThe Save button on the modify location screen.

  10. Navigate to Contact Groups and click Modify GroupsThe Contact Groups tab with a Modify Groups button highlighted.

  11. Search for and select Available Groups for the user Selecting groups for public groups, including Emergency Alerts and Road Closures options.

  12. Click SaveThe Save button on the groups screen.

  13. Click Save Changes in the top right corner of the screen to add the user Button to save changes on the contact page.

  14. The public contact has been added

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