County’s Emergency Notification System Expands to Include Cell Phones and VoIP

La Plata County’s emergency notification system (commonly referred to as “Reverse 9-1-1”) can now include cell phones and VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol).  La PlataCounty residents, including Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the cities of Bayfield, Ignacio, and Durango, can now register up to five cell or internet phone numbers for their home address, allowing them to be notified if there’s an emergency near their home – even when they’re not.  Registration is free and only takes a few minutes.  Links to the registration page may be found by visiting the City of Durango website at www.durangogov.org, Durango Fire and Rescue Authority website at  www.DurangoFireRescue.org or La Plata County website at www.co.laplata.co.us

 and clicking on the Emergency Alert Connect logo.

“The Emergency Alert Connect system connects residents to the police or fire agencies that serve them, allowing authorities to quickly contact residents in the event of an urgent public safety situation,” commented Phil Campbell, director of the Durango-La Plata Emergency Communications Center.  “Many people have replaced their land lines with internet phones and almost everyone has a cell phone.  This system provides the critical link to those phones.”