1-18-12 —    Wayne County Fiscal Court is still considering options for a reverse  

911 system. Magistrates and several representatives from the county's  

emergency services met for a work session on Tuesday, January 10 to  

hear a presentation from City Watch Notification  Solutions.

    It was the second presentation made to the court, and the company is  

very similar to the one that magistrates became acquainted with the  

previous week, which was Emergency Communications Network, Inc.

    City Watch offers a web-based program, like Emergency Communi-

cations Network, Inc. But the county could also choose to purchase  

all the equipment and locate the service in Wayne County.

    During the teleconference last week, magistrates were provided with  

a test call, showing them how an emergency notification is launched.  

The service can be used to notify residents with a phone call, a text  

message or an e-mail in the case of any emergency, ranging from a  

tornado to a boil water advisory.

    Don Denham with City Watch noted that in a county the size of Wayne  

County it will take about seven to eight minutes to launch a warning  

call to residents.

    There is also a weather alert system available through the service,  

noted Denham. It is called Weather Trax, which will be available for  

local residents to sign up for. They can choose the type of weather  

alerts they want to be notified about, whether if be flash flooding  

or other types of severe weather.

    Weather alerts are launched automatically to those who sign up for  

them, stated Denham. Local officials could broaden that data base by  

adding in other areas.

    Denham estimated that the charge for Wayne County for an unlimited  

annual plan would be about $11,500, but noted that he would send  

specific figures to the court before they make any decision. The  

court would have to agree on at least a one-year contract but that  

could be extended to a three or five year deal, according to Denham.

    Magistrates will take a look at both options before making a final  

decision later.