Yates 911 enhances cell phone notifications

Yates County Sheriff Ron Spike advises that the Yates County 911 Communications Center utilizes the Hyper-Reach Emergency Notification System as a method for “reverse 911 notifications” for emergency preparedness and other notifications of county-wide residents. The system automatically uses land line telephone numbers provided by telephone companies. However for people who use wireless “cell” phones, or use TDD/TYY, or digital VoIP phone, or a service like Magic Jack then those numbers are not included in the Hyper-Reach agency database and those people are urged to sign up for Hyper-Reach notifications. “The number of people who are dependent on their mobile telephone is increasing everyday and 911 dispatchers receive a majority of calls on these devices,” said Sheriff Spike, “We also utilize the Nixle System for community advisories via texts and email.”“The Hyper-Reach system has been used in the past by dispatchers for notifications of localized emergencies, hazardous material incidents, barricaded persons, missing persons, criminal activity, and other dangerous conditions in a neighborhood or identified geographical area,” said Chief Dispatcher Sandra Smith, “911 Dispatchers can choose an address range or map a geographical municipal area, and send a mass recorded voice message to all telephones in that area very quickly.”To register your wireless phone go to www.yatescountysheriff.org (home page) and click on Hyper-Reach community link located at bottom of the page and complete the electronic form which will be kept confidential. Please use the complete number and street address not a PO Box number. For additional information contact by email sheriff@yatescounty.org or call the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency number at (315) 536-4438.