Vail dispatch center upgrades warning systems
EAGLE COUNTY — The Eagle County Telephone Service Authority, also known as the “911 Board,” has upgraded its public information and warning services system to better serve residents, second-home owners, property managers and others who may not get notifications through traditional “reverse 911” methods.
The automated voice notification system, powered by Everbridge, is used to disseminate emergency information over the phone, such as evacuation notices or other emergency information. That information is sent to specific locations in the valley.
While land line phone numbers are automatically included in the system database, additional numbers, including wireless, may now be added to the service and associated with a location. More information is available at http://www.vail911.com/signup.
OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW
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The new system replaces the old one , so those who have registered numbers in the past must create a new account. Anyone may subscribe, but the service may be of particular importance to those without landline phones, especially those with Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) numbers such as Vonage or XFINITY Voice. Second-home owners may also benefit.
The information and warning service is available for residences and businesses in the Eagle Valley from the top of Vail Pass and Tennessee Pass west to Bair Ranch, including the Sweetwater area, and north to the Routt County line. Eagle County residents who live in the Roaring Fork Valley receive notification services from the Aspen/Pitkin County Communications Center.
SIGN UP FOR EC ALERT SYSTEM
In addition to the public information and emergency warning services system, all residents are encouraged to subscribe to EC Alert at http://www.ecalert.org. The service is customizable and provides users with useful information and emergency updates by sending messages to a variety of devices, including email accounts and cell phones. Registration to EC Alert is free, although text messaging fees may apply.
The Eagle County Telephone Service Authority is a six-member board appointed by the Eagle County Commissioners and is responsible for managing the funds collected from the telephone carriers, both landline and wireless. In Eagle County that charge is $1.25 per month per line. By law, the funds must be spent on items directly related to providing 911 service.
