Kanawha County sets trick-or-treat day 'in perpetuity,' launches emergency app

This year, the commission decided in August that trick-or-treat would be on Thursday, Oct. 30, hoping to minimize mischief by the local youth and conflicts with high school football games held on Friday night.

On Tuesday, Oct. 28, the commission announced that due to forecasted rainy weather, the event would be moved to Friday, Oct. 31. The Kanawha County municipalities followed suit.

“A couple of former commissioners used to joke that the most communications we get at the Kanawha County Commission is when we pick trick-or-treat," Salango said. "Because ... every one person has five opinions, and you can pick what you think is the perfect night, and 90% are mad, and you change it, and 90% are mad."

Commissioner Lance Wheeler pointed out that mayors have the right to pick the trick-or-treat night for their city, but it’s easier for everyone if it’s on the same night.

“ I think from their conversations and our conversations we've had here at the commission, it would be best if we set for, in perpetuity, trick-or-treat on Halloween,� he said.

Commissioner Natalie Tennant said when she was a child, Halloween was only one event: trick-or-treating on Oct. 31. Now, there are multiple trunk-or-treat events all over the county.

“I’m good for the 31st, and then stake out any other places you want to go,� she said.

Salango pointed out that the holiday will fall on a Sunday in 2027 and apologized in advance to those who would be offended.

Kanawha Alert

Also Thursday night, the commissioners saw a demonstration of the new free Kanawha Alert app. Metro 911 could not use the push notifications like they wanted on the old app, KC Ready. Those with the app downloaded will get Kanawha County safety alerts no matter where they are. Notifications must be enabled on the app and in your phone’s settings.

The app has a feed of local news such as traffic crashes, weather and road closures. Currently the time of those events is not displayed, but the app developer is working to fix that.

Wireless emergency alerts, such as Amber alerts and location-based weather alerts, will still come to your phone without the app if you are in an area pertinent to the alert.

C.W. Sigman, Kanawha County emergency management director, said people liked the app alerts because they could get alerts even if they are not in the affected location.

Wheeler agreed.

“Some users might have this because they have family, they have friends, they have children currently in that area, and they would want that notification anyways because it’s a big emergency,� he said.

Sigman said the app can also put out more notifications than the county can through the wireless emergency alerts.

Other features

The app also has safety information like the county’s hazard management plans and information on how to create an emergency kit. There are also links to helpful resources like the flood zone map, the power outage map and the live traffic cameras. Also included are personal safety tools such as a program called Friend Walk to allow your loved ones to track your location when needed and what3words which helps 911 dispatchers know your location without cell service.

You can also call or text 911 from the Kanawha Alert app. Using the app to do these features will automatically give dispatchers your location.

If you are texting 911 without the app, always include your location.

Rick McElhaney, who manages operations for Metro 911, said that the app will not add any extra steps to the call takers and dispatchers.