August is a month of transitions for local governments—from back-to-school preparations and National Night Out celebrations to end-of-summer events and ongoing heat safety measures. It's also prime time for engaging residents through your local government mobile app and mass communication tools as families prepare for fall schedules and communities come together for safety initiatives.
With GOGov's Citizen Notifications, your team can proactively deliver timely updates via push notifications, SMS, voice, email, and even social media—all from one easy-to-use communication platform. Below are notification ideas to help you make the most of your outreach in August.
🎒 Back-to-School Alerts
Help Families Prepare & Keep Everyone Safe
August means school zones become active again, crossing guards return, and traffic patterns change. These notifications help families transition smoothly while keeping all residents informed about important changes.
📣 School Zone Reminder
- Headline: School Zones Active Monday, August 12th
- Tagline: Slow down for student safety
- Message: School zones will be active starting Monday with reduced speed limits from 7-8:30 AM and 2:30-4 PM. Crossing guards will be stationed at Main St & School Ave. Drive carefully!
📣 Bus Route Information
- Headline: New School Bus Routes in Effect
- Tagline: Check stops and timing changes
- Message: Updated school bus routes begin August 19th. Some stops have moved or changed times. View the full route map and schedule in the city app or visit [website].
📣 School Supply Drive
- Headline: City Hall Collecting School Supplies
- Tagline: Help local students succeed
- Message: Drop off new school supplies at City Hall through August 16th. Most needed items: backpacks, notebooks, and pencils. Donations will benefit [Local School District].
👮 National Night Out Events
Build Community Connections & Public Safety Awareness
National Night Out on August 6th brings neighborhoods together with police and fire departments. These notifications help maximize participation and strengthen community bonds.
📣 National Night Out Invitation
- Headline: Join Us for National Night Out - August 6th
- Tagline: Meet your neighbors and first responders
- Message: Tuesday, Aug 6th from 5-8 PM at Memorial Park. Free food, safety demonstrations, and meet local police & fire crews. Bring the whole family for a fun, safe evening!
📣 Block Party Registration
- Headline: Register Your Block Party by August 1st
- Tagline: Free permits for National Night Out
- Message: Planning a National Night Out block party? Register by August 1st for free street closure permits and police visit requests. Forms available at City Hall or on the app.
📣 Safety Demonstration Schedule
- Headline: Don't Miss Fire Safety Demo Tonight
- Tagline: 6 PM at Memorial Park
- Message: Fire Department will demonstrate proper fire extinguisher use at 6 PM during National Night Out. Learn skills that could save lives! Event runs until 8 PM.
📸 City Hall Selfie Day
Connect with Your Community & Show Local Pride
Encourage residents to visit City Hall, learn about local government, and share their civic pride on social media with a fun, engaging event that builds community connection.
📣 City Hall Selfie Day Announcement
- Headline: City Hall Selfie Day - August 15th
- Tagline: Show your civic pride
- Message: Visit City Hall Friday, August 15th for selfies with the mayor, free city swag, and tours! Share your photo with #MyCityHall for a chance to win downtown gift cards. 10 AM-4 PM.
📣 Selfie Contest Reminder
- Headline: Last Day for Selfie Contest
- Tagline: Win $50 downtown gift cards
- Message: Today is your last chance for City Hall Selfie Day! Take your photo, post with #MyCityHall, and you could win one of five $50 downtown gift cards. Winners announced Monday!
☀️ Continued Heat Safety Measures
Extreme Heat Requires Ongoing Vigilance
August often brings the year's most intense heat. Keep residents safe with proactive communication about resources and precautions.
📣 Heat Emergency Resources
- Headline: Cooling Centers Extended Hours
- Tagline: Beat the dangerous heat
- Message: Due to excessive heat warnings, cooling centers at [Locations] will stay open until 10 PM through Friday. Free water, charging stations, and AC available. Pets welcome.
📣 Water Conservation Request
- Headline: Voluntary Water Conservation Requested
- Tagline: Help during peak summer demand
- Message: High temperatures are straining our water system. Please limit outdoor watering to early morning or evening hours. Thank you for helping conserve this vital resource.
📣 Pet Safety Reminder
- Headline: Protect Pets from Extreme Heat
- Tagline: Pavement burns paw pads
- Message: With temps reaching 95°F+, pavement can burn pet paws in seconds. Walk pets early morning or evening, provide shade and water, and never leave pets in cars.
🎡 End-of-Summer Events
Celebrate the Season's Final Festivities
August marks the last hurrah for many summer activities. These notifications help residents make the most of final opportunities while building excitement for fall programming.
📣 Last Outdoor Movie Night
- Headline: Final Summer Movie Under the Stars
- Tagline: Saturday, August 24th at Central Park
- Message: Join us for the last outdoor movie of summer! "The Incredibles" starts at 8 PM Saturday. Bring blankets and chairs. Concessions available. Rain date: August 25th.
📣 Pool Season Ending
- Headline: Community Pool Closes Labor Day
- Tagline: Last chance for summer swimming
- Message: The Community Pool will close for the season after Labor Day (Sept 2nd). Extended hours this weekend: Friday-Monday 10 AM-8 PM. Season passes available for next year!
📣 Summer Reading Program Finale
- Headline: Summer Reading Celebration Thursday
- Tagline: Pizza party and prize giveaways
- Message: Join us Thursday, August 29th at 3 PM for our Summer Reading Program celebration! Pizza, prizes, and recognition for all participants. Library main branch.
🚧 Late-Summer Construction Updates
Keep Projects on Track & Residents Informed
August is prime time for completing summer construction projects before school starts and weather changes. Targeted alerts help minimize disruption.
📣 Sidewalk Project Completion
- Headline: Oak Street Sidewalks Finished Early
- Tagline: Reopening ahead of school start
- Message: Great news! Oak Street sidewalk improvements are complete—two days ahead of schedule. Full pedestrian access restored just in time for the school year. Thank you for your patience.
📣 Final Phase Road Work
- Headline: Elm Avenue Final Paving This Week
- Tagline: Project completion by August 30th
- Message: The final phase of Elm Avenue improvements begins Monday. Expect lane closures 9 AM-3 PM through Friday. Project will be complete before school starts!
📣 Utility Work Notice
- Headline: Brief Water Shutoff Tuesday Morning
- Tagline: Maple Street area affected
- Message: Water will be shut off on Maple Street from Oak to Pine (approx. 200 homes) Tuesday 8-11 AM for main line repairs. Service should restore by noon. Notifications when complete.
🏛️ Government Services & Holiday Notices
Keep Residents Updated on Schedule Changes
With summer schedules winding down and Labor Day approaching, residents need to know about service changes and office hours.
📣 Labor Day Closures
- Headline: City Offices Closed Labor Day
- Tagline: Emergency services remain available
- Message: All municipal offices will be closed Monday, September 2nd for Labor Day. Trash pickup delayed one day that week. Emergency services operate normally. We reopen Tuesday at 8 AM.
📣 Summer Hours Ending
- Headline: Regular Office Hours Resume August 26th
- Tagline: No more summer Friday closures
- Message: Starting Monday, August 26th, City Hall returns to regular hours: Monday-Friday 8 AM-5 PM. Summer Friday early closures end August 23rd. Thank you for your flexibility!
📣 Budget Meeting Reminder
- Headline: Public Budget Hearing Tomorrow
- Tagline: Your voice matters in city planning
- Message: Join us Tuesday, August 27th at 7 PM for the public budget hearing at City Hall. Review proposed spending and share your input on community priorities. Documents available on the app.
🌊 Emergency Preparedness Alerts
Hurricane Season & Late-Summer Weather Awareness
August brings peak hurricane season and severe weather risks. Proactive preparedness communication can save lives and property.
📣 Hurricane Preparedness Week
- Headline: Hurricane Preparedness Week Starts Monday
- Tagline: Are you ready for severe weather?
- Message: August 19-25 is Hurricane Preparedness Week. Check your emergency kit, review evacuation routes, and sign up for weather alerts in the city app. Free supplies while they last at City Hall.
📣 Severe Weather Watch
- Headline: Severe Thunderstorm Watch Tonight
- Tagline: Possible damaging winds and hail
- Message: Severe storms possible 6-11 PM with winds up to 60 mph and quarter-size hail. Secure outdoor items and avoid unnecessary travel. Real-time updates available in the app.
📣 Flash Flood Safety
- Headline: Turn Around, Don't Drown
- Tagline: Flash flood safety reminder
- Message: With heavy rains forecasted, remember: never drive through flooded roads. Six inches of water can stall a car, 12 inches can carry it away. When in doubt, find another route.
August Communication Powered by GOGov
August brings the convergence of summer's end, school preparation, community safety initiatives, and emergency preparedness needs. With GOGov's Citizen Notification system, local governments can communicate more effectively across all these important areas—whether it's helping families prepare for school, promoting National Night Out participation, encouraging civic engagement through fun events like City Hall Selfie Day, or keeping everyone safe during extreme weather.
Best of all? It works across multiple channels at once:
✅ Push Notifications
✅ Text (SMS)
✅ Voice Calls
✅ Email
✅ Web & Social Media
Ready to transform your August communications and keep your community informed, engaged, and safe? Schedule a demo to see how GOGov can help your local government make the most of this busy month.
