Did you receive a phone call last week from the Stuart Fire Department announcing the boil advisory?   Stuart Chief of Police David Reha says this phone call is included in the new system that Stuart Emergency Services and Guthrie County Emergency Management are now using to notify area residents of emergencies.

The Adair & Guthrie Counties Emergency Notification System now has the ability to reach out to the public with emergency information.  This system is designed to get emergency messages to the public, quickly and effectively and provides an opportunity to disseminate critical information if and when the need arises.

After four years of testing options and researching companies offering the services needed, Adair and Guthrie Counties Emergency Management Coordinator Robert Kempf, along with the EM Commission, selected the firm of Global Connect of Mays Landing, NJ.  Together, they’ve been working hand-in-hand to “go live” with emergency notification in both counties.

A drive is underway to collect information for the database. Residents are urged to sign up online at: www.guthriecounty.org   or www.adaircountyiowa.org . The form is available in the Emergency Management link.  Paper forms are also available at city halls, libraries and in the Guthrie and Adair County Auditor Offices.  The form asks for: name, 911 address, city, zip code, primary phone number, cell phone numbers and email addresses. The system stores this and uses the contact information according to street address, Kempf explains.  In the event of a localized emergency, your local street address will integrate with the notification system’s mapping capabilities.  It also offers the option of notification by the National Weather Service for severe thunderstorm and tornado warnings.  Kempf assures everyone that the information is private and after filling out the form, you should be registered within a few business days.

For more information, call the Adair & Guthrie County Emergency Management Agency at 641- 332-3030.