Time is running out for anyone wanting to receive alerts over Fannin County’s new emergency notification system.
Robert Graham said last week the county will change from its current Nixle system to the upgraded Hyper-Reach system Friday, April 1.
Graham, who is director of the Fannin County Emergency Management Agency, said signing up is easy and explained there are five different ways. Those are:
•Call 706-514-4743;
•Text “alerts” to 706-514-4743;
•Go to: http://hyper-reach.com/gafanninsignup.html;
•Tell your Alexa unit “Alexa, enable Hyper-Reach; or,
•Scan the QR Code accompanying this article.
Graham said upgrading to the Hyper-Reach system will provide advantages benefiting government agencies and citizens alike.
Among those are the ability for governments to send more detailed messages. While the current system limits individual messages to 137 characters, the new system allows 500 characters per message.
“We can give a lot better message giving a clearer picture of any situation,” Graham said.
Citizens who sign up will also receive messages no matter where they are if they are in a Hyper-Reach service area. For example, a family traveling in Florida, as long as they are in a Hyper-Reach service area, would receive messages put out through the new Fannin County system.
The new system will also allow Blue Ridge and McCaysville to transmit their own messages.
National Weather Service alerts can also be received, and anyone signed up for the system can choose to opt in or opt out of these alerts.
The Hyper-Reach alert system is available through a mix of telephone calls, text, email and TTY/TDD for the hearing impaired, a statement from the company said.
Graham said citizens can now get better information about emergencies, hazardous weather and other threats.