David Ashburn is a member of the Walker County Development Authority.
Starting March 1, if disaster strikes in Walker County, Ga., residents with land line phones will get a warning call if they’re in harm’s way.
“A really clear voice that is electronic will say, ‘There is a flood’ or whatever [the threat is],” said Kiva Wyandotte, account manager for Sam Asher Computing Services Inc.
Asher is the Rochester, N.Y.-based company the county has hired to provide what’s commonly called “reverse 911,” a computerized system that lets emergency services personnel call to tell people in a specific area that a tornado, wildfire, flood or other threat is imminent.
“It’s a way to notify the public,” County Coordinator David Ashburn said. “We’re looking at going live with it on March 1st.”
Walker County is spending $23,000 in federal hazard mitigation grant money for two years of the Hyper-Reach emergency notification system, which also lets the county call its emergency personnel all at once.