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Emergency Management to Get New Communication System

CivicReady, a product of CivicPlus, will alert citizens with time-sensitive information, ensuring effective communications that could keep them safe.

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(TNS) - Cherokee County, Okla., will soon boast a new program to keep residents informed when disaster strikes, after the Board of Commissioners approved a new mass communication system for Emergency Management.

CivicReady, a product of CivicPlus, will alert citizens with time-sensitive information, ensuring effective communications that could keep them safe. Tahlequah and Cherokee County EM Director Mike Underwood said he wishes the new system was in place last week.

"Last week, when we had the bomb threat here, that would have been a pretty good tool to not only take care of our citizens and let them know what was going on, but we could also have grouped in all of our employees," said Underwood. "With one phone call, it would taken care of pretty much everybody, instead of having to hunt and make sure you've got everybody."

In the past, Underwood has used Blackboard to spread the word about immediate emergencies. However, he said CivicReady will likely end up being cheaper at $7,000 annually, and will include extra features.

"There's no limit as to how many people can sign up," he said. "There's no limit on how many times we use it. With Blackboard, we were somewhat limited, and we were also charged extra if we went over a certain amount. With this one, they won't do that."

David May, a representative from CivicPlus, said citizens who sign up for the system can receive messages through email, text or voice mail.

"So if you have any visually-impaired citizens, you can record a voice message the person can listen to it to get the information they need," said May.

The system also provides geo-targeted notifications.

"If we have a situation in a given area, we can pull the map up, circle that area, and it will only call people who reside in that area," said Underwood. "You couldn't really do that with Blackboard. Well, you could, but they wanted to charge you way extra."

Those who sign up for the notification system can also choose to receive automated weather alerts.

"They can sign up for weather alerts direct from National Weather Service," said Underwood. "That's a big plus, in my opinion."

Underwood said all the information people receive about weather usually comes from the National Weather Service, so having notifications come directly from NWS will disseminate the data faster.

The system will also be available to other county departments for sending general information, like road closures, high-water warnings and other critical information.

The city of Tahlequah has already decided to work with CivicPlus to help revamp its website, which leaves the county open to an "unprecedented opportunity," said May.

"Tahlequah is already paying the setup fees and getting everything going for their citizens," he said. "The only fee the county is picking up is the annual fee for those citizens outside of Tahlequah."

May expects the system to be up and running in around 12 weeks. During that time, Underwood and the county will begin explaining how locals can sign up.

"It's just another good way to help take care of yourself and your family," said Underwood. "I think if it saves one life, its money well spent."

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©2017 the Tahlequah Daily Press (Tahlequah, Okla.)

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