to respond to E-911 packets

Staff Report

Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford is urging residents to help E-911 by completing forms being distributed to residences and businesses throughout Pike County.

"It is vital for all members of the city, who receive an E-911 address packet, to complete it promptly and return it in the pre-stamped envelope, which will take less than two minutes of their time," Lunsford said.

"It is necessary for residents to support this outreach effort because it will allow emergency vehicles to respond quicker and it will better the community as a whole."

In an effort to update the countywide emergency system, all residents must be listed by their correct names, addresses and phone numbers, said Jan Dismukes, director of the E-911 effort.

"This update will allow residents in rural areas to receive better emergency assistance and will decrease the response time," Dismukes said.

According to Dismukes, about 50 percent of the packets have been delivered.

"If you didn’t receive an E-911 packet, don’t worry because they will be redoing drop off for any residents that they may have missed," Dismukes said.

MSAG Data Consultants, Inc. of Orange, Va. began field verification on June 27 by distributing packets that ask for much-needed information. Plans are to have all packets by Aug. 1.

Residents are being asked to return the forms within 10 days of receipt.

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

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.