Emergency Notification System In-Place

 

by Jonathan Weaver

Telephone, text message and e-mail notifications for county-wide emergencies are now available to Armstrong County residents.

Yesterday, County 9-1-1 Director Ron Baustert said the VESTA alert system is “up and running.”

“The VESTA alerting is basically a reverse- 9-1-1 notification system. We’ll be able to notify the public of any emergencies or situations within the area, such as flooding, jail breaks, road closures,” Baustert said.

Baustert compared the new emergency alert system to ones offered to parents through local school districts.

Baustert first said in November and reiterated Thursday that all County residents with a landline phone are automatically registered.

To register for cell phone or e-mail alerts, residents must log on to the County’s 9-1-1 website – www.armcodps.com. The link will also be provided on the County Facebook pages, and hard copies will be available at various County offices.

Baustert worked on a sub-committee last year consisting of several counties (known as Region 13) to enable the public safety warning region-wide.

“Region 13 already uses a component of what they’re going to sell us – (Armstrong County) doesn’t have everything; we have a portion the region purchased for us,” Baustert said. “After extensive reviews with vendors, conference calls and demos, the sub-committee selected ‘Airbus’ as the best solution for the region.

“However that’s being delayed by the State (but) with the jail incident, Armstrong County didn’t think we had time to wait, so we’re moving ahead on our own.”

Baustert said the public alert system carries with it a three-year agreement, with annual installments.

Commissioner George Skamai said it is a very easy process for residents to register for cell phone or e-mail alerts.

“The Board recognizes the value of this product because of its multi-faceted use,” Skamai said.

The emergency alert system was suggested following an Armstrong County Jail inmate escape in July. Robert Crissman, Jr., of Templeton, was apprehended by police after about 24 hours on the run, but it also followed the suspected murder of Tammy Long.

The $28,000 cost for the new Airbus DS Communications software will come from the County’s 9-1-1 budget.