Goodrich-While residents have long had the option of calling 9-1-1 to inform them of an emergency, they will soon have the option of 9-1-1 calling them in times of crisis.
Village of Goodrich Administrator Jakki Sidge said the ‘reverse 9-1-1? system is expected to be ready for use by the first of the year.
Sidge explained the system works by mass-calling residents of Genesee County with a pre-recorded message in times of emergency.
Dave Ackley, deputy director of Genesee County 9-1-1, said as many as 140 calls a minute could be made throughout the county.
The warning system would be utilized in case of ‘things like chemical spills, possibly missing children? basically there’s no limit to what it can be used for,? said Ackley, adding the program would only be implemented in emergency situations as defined by an advisory board.
Use will be limited ‘strictly to ’emergency only? basis because when we do use it, we want people to listen to it,? said Ackley.
The county can issue ‘any type of warning we want to give (residents), that’s what’s great about the system. We can record whatever type of message we want (to fit the situation),? explained Grace Ranger, Genesee County emergency management and homeland security director.
Ranger said the system was paid for using a homeland security grant.
The almost $110,00 grant purchased three Reverse 9-1-1 systems that will be installed throughout the county, explained Ranger.
‘We were looking for another type of a warning system for the community. For us, that’s a priority, ? said Ranger.
The county already has access to sirens, alert monitors, an emergency alert system and Comcast Cable override in a crisis, said Ranger.
‘What we really hope is going to happen with this system is it will be a better system to help special needs residents,? said Ranger.
When using the system, dispatchers are able to set parameters for call distribution, so only individuals in affected areas will receive the warning, Ranger explained.
Ackley added that measures were being taken to reduce redundant calling. For example, the system will not waste time calling every station in a factory within an affected area, when there is an in-house method for dispensing that information with calls only to specific sections of the factory.