Pike County Times
The Pike County Times, PO Box 843, Zebulon, Georgia 30295. Click here to donate through PayPal. Becky Watts: Phone # 770-468-7583 editor@pikecountytimes.com
 
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This online news website is owned and operated by Becky Watts. The Editor can be reached at 770-468-7583 or at editor(at)PikeCountyTimes(dot)com. Pike County Times is a website for citizens to keep up with local events and stay informed about Pike County government. It began on November 13, 2006 as a watchdog on county government and has turned into an online newspaper.

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Pike County Gets County-wide Emergency Notification System
 

ZEBULON - On Thursday, February 23, 2012, Pike County will for the first time be covered with a county-wide emergency notification system when severe weather or other life-threatening events occur in the community. Residents who currently have a valid phone number on file in the E911 data base will receive a test call announcing the system has been activated in Pike County. An internet-based system, DeltAlert, will automatically call citizens at their homes and mobile phones when a tornado warning is issued for Pike County. DeltAlert can also be used to contact citizens with other important notices, such as a boil water alert.

“After major tornado-producing storms last April we looked at a county-wide emergency notification system,” said Pike County Fire Chief Mike Grant. “Our first thought was warning sirens, but their cost was very high and required a lengthy geographical study, which added a significant amount to the overall cost.”

“We worked closely with Pike County Sheriff Jimmy Thomas, Pike County E911, and County Manager Bill Sawyer to research alternatives. We found computer-based emergency notification systems or ‘reverse 911’ systems,” Chief Grant continued. “Not only were they far more affordable, we felt that citizens would be more likely to respond to such a system in an emergency. Instead of using set-place sirens, the alerts are phoned to our citizens. They are much more likely to hear a phone ringing, especially at night when they are asleep.”

When residents receive a phone call, the caller ID will display 770-567-2018, which is the phone number for Pike County Emergency Services. “This was important to us as we felt that residents would be more likely to answer a local phone number,” said Emergency Management Director Jimmy Totten. “Most of the other systems we looked at did not have this feature.”

The cost of DeltaAlert was $14,700 for two years. Half of the cost was covered by grants from state and federal funding. A local charitable trust also donated $4,000. The final cost for this service was $3,350.

“We are taking the opportunity to do two very important things at once,” said Director Totten. “First, we need citizens to sign up for DeltAlert to ensure they get life-threatening alerts. Second, we are at the same time updating the county’s 911 database.”

“In getting the DeltAlert system prepared for use in Pike County, it was found that E911 had over 9,000 contacts listed, but less than 50% of those contacts had valid phone numbers listed or other vital information for local residences and business,” Director Totten explained. “What this means is that when someone calls E911 for an emergency, the dispatchers do not have current information to give first responders.”

Missing information ranges from the names of occupants, current call back numbers, special needs at that address, up to date gate codes, to a physical description of homes and businesses. Having this information cuts response times to emergencies.

To register their information for Deltalert and update their information for the E911 database, click here. If residents have questions they may call Emergency Management Director Jimmy Totten at 770-567-2018 or e-mail him at ema@pikeemergencyservices.com.

2.9.12
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