Published: March 03, 2008 10:03 pm            

Call technology a good solution

Back in November, then Mayor-elect Greg Goodnight was considering spending priorities for his administration’s first year. Citywide tornado sirens didn’t make the list.

The Kokomo Common Council passed on first reading an appropriation of $144,000 for sirens at each of the city’s fire stations. Goodnight said he wanted the city to pursue reverse 911 technology, in which emergency management could call home and cell phones, warning residents of impending emergencies.

Those calls wouldn’t be limited to tornadoes, but could also be used to announce Amber Alerts, gas leaks and chlorine leaks.

“If we can save that money and still have a better system, let’s take our time on that,” Goodnight said.

The council tabled the siren proposal later that month. Now Howard County Commissioners are picking up where Goodnight left off.

Michelle Edthrington, of Code Red Emergency Communications, told commissioners of her company’s emergency system Monday. She said it can be programmed to alert any group of people of emergencies, and the county wouldn’t have to purchase equipment to activate it.

The cost of the service is about $37,000 a year, and a link would be provided on the county’s Web page, allowing home and cell phone users to register for alerts.

County Emergency Management Agency director Larry Smith told commissioners the local 911 fund collected on all phone lines can be used to pay for the emergency alert service.

We encourage the commissioners to continue investigating such a system, and Howard County residents, particularly now during Severe Weather Preparedness Week, to inventory their own family’s disaster readiness.

Consider buying a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio, capable of picking up direct broadcasts from the National Weather Service. Such broadcasts provide official storm warnings and watches – as well as general weather information – 24 hours a day.

They cost no more than $80 a piece. That sounds like money well spent.

        

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