Ping4 has raised $4m (£2.6m) in private placement capital for its localised rich media alerts system, which is used by authorities to warn residents about nearby emergencies.

The Ping4alerts! system can send geo-fenced messages to users who have opted in and downloaded the app, without recquiring any personal information about them. The alerts feature a combination of text, images, audio and video.

The system was recently used in the US state of Massachusetts to keep residents informed on snowstorm Nemo.

 “Ping4alerts! is a new, highly-personalized medium that represents the intersection of your interests, and wherever you are in the world,” said Ping4 CEO Jim Bender. “Through this app, we deliver valuable, geographically-specific information when and where you need it most. In emergency situations, immediate information can mean the difference between life and death.”

According to Bender, Ping4 also intends to make future versions of the system available to retailers, to deliver targeted communications and discount deal alerts.