Staff Writer

Work to establish a countywide E-911 system is well under way.

Four individuals are traveling the county, distributing packets that contain a brief form that needs to be returned as soon as possible.

E-911 director Jan Dismukes said MSAG Data Consultants, Inc. of Orange, Va. began field verification on Wednesday, June 27 by distributing packets that ask for much-needed information.

"We need them to fill out the forms and return them as soon as possible," Dismukes said of the forms contained in those packets should be returned within 10 days.

The packets contain a form that asks for name, current mailing addresses and phone number and a postage-paid envelope.

"It’s a very short form that takes less than two minutes to complete," Dismukes said. "We’re asking residents to fill them out and put them in the mail as soon as they receive them. The sooner they get these back to us, the better."

When mailed back, MSAG will compile the information, which will eventually be sent to the post office so mail will be delivered to the correct address once the process is complete, Dismukes said.

"It’s important everyone send these forms back as soon as they can because we have deadlines to meet and the entire process has to be up and running by November 2002," Dismukes said.

She also pointed out the new E-911 system was something voted on by the people of Pike County during a referendum.

"It’s going to be a challenge," Dismukes said of the entire process of collecting data and mapping.

A little over one-third of the E-911 information packets have been distributed. Plans are to have all of them delivered by Aug. 1.