Reverse 911 system soon replaced

The local emergency alert system will soon be replaced following an address to the Kimball County Commissioners from Sheriff Harry Gillway last week, regarding the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) program.

The program, launched in 2006 in response to presidential executive order #13407, required the United States comprehensive system to “alert and warn the American people in situations of war, terrorist attack, natural disaster or other hazards to public safety and well-being.”

This system that we now use locally is referred to most as the “all call” system, or technically is referred to as the “reverse 911 system.”

Gillway explained that federal funding for the system ran out when the federal level met it’s compliance.

Gillway, along with Linda Williams, Kimball County General Assistant Coordinator, have looked into a new program, The CodeRED NEXT system, for local authorities to use during situations of localized imminent threats, Amber alerts, and other information needed for public safety.

Gillway and Williams provided the board with an overview of the advantages CodeRED NEXT provides. They touted that changes in today’s technology – the frequent use of iPhones, Smart phones and iPods, have changed the way people would prefer to receive alerts. This system, they said, is easy to use for the local authorities, as well as the residents.

“This system does everything that the current black board does,” proposed Gillway, “and a lot more. It actually connects us per the Presidential directive to the IPAWS system.”

Gillway mentioned that residents have the option of downloading the CodeRED mobile alert app to receive messages, while they are traveling if they prefer to.

“Everyone who has a mobile device in a geographical area, and it’s scaleable – we can decide if it’s a small area, or larger– even if they are not from our area, they will get the call.”

The CodeRED app also will give the local authorities the ability to reach not only residents, but people in the area at the time of a crisis or emergency – intransits, visitors, people traveling nearby on Interstate 80 or the highways – as it will give authorities the option to pick the range of a specific warning area to notify.

“It will get the emergencies out to the public – especially people that are not on are reserve 911,” explained Gillway.

The messages will also be computer automated.

“This (CodeRed) is computer based. I know that you all have heard this before – when you get a reverse 911 call perhaps the dispatcher is nervous and leaves something off, and this will let us type it out on the computer. That message generates a voice that will come out that is very clear and very precise.”

“The contract is due next month for our current Reverse 911 system,” he added. “We have to give the other company that we will be backing out of their contract.”

The commissioners agreed that the new system would be a great tool for the county going forward. The county will begin switching over to the new system beginning on March 1.