Public Safety Leaders Encourage Citizens to Sign Up to Receive Life-Saving Information
(MIAMISBURG, Ohio) – State and local leaders gathered in Montgomery County to encourage citizens to sign up to receive emergency alerts. Mass notification systems can offer timely alerts on public safety information, including severe weather, active threats, and other events within a specific area.
“These alerts can literally save your life,” said Ohio Department of Public Safety Director Andy Wilson. “The devastating floods in Texas and other recent natural disasters revealed that many citizens in rural areas did not receive alerts in a timely manner. Every Ohioan needs to be aware there are ways to receive emergency notifications that are specific to their county.”
“We encourage all residents to be aware of the communication methods available to them,” said Ohio Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Technical Services Administrative Officer Jeff Greene. “County mass notification systems are a great way to get reliable information about emergency situations in specific areas.”
Among the many ways to receive emergency notifications are weather radios, local news stations, cell-phone alerts, and outdoor warning sirens. It is critical that you also have a method of alert that can wake you during the night as outdoor sirens are not designed to be heard indoors.
Each county EMA in Ohio can help you figure out what notification system works best for you.
“Timely, accurate information saves lives,” said Montgomery County EMA Director Nedra Havens. “When an emergency happens, public notification is often our first and most important tool to protect the community. Systems like CodeRED allow us to reach residents quickly with instructions that help them take immediate action. We want every Montgomery County resident to be connected, informed, and ready to respond.”
You can watch video of the news conference here.
To learn more about how emergency management works in Ohio and to find a list of county emergency management offices, visit the Ohio Emergency Management Agency’s website.
