Reverse 911 expands

Reverse 911 has entered the age of cell phones and email in Kootenai County.

Residents throughout the county now have the option of being notified of certain emergencies via voice, text or email messages through their cell phones and computers.

Landline phones have been a part of the reverse 911 notification system for a few years.

"It's a great tool for people to take advantage of to be notified of disasters, Amber alerts, evacuations and other emergency situations," said Post Falls Police Chief Scot Haug, whose agency and Kootenai County operate 911 centers that back each other up.

"(Reverse 911) is not designed for everyday emergencies. It's not a database to track people. It's used for one purpose - notification of the public."

It doesn't cost to sign up for Reverse 911 through cell phones and email. Text messages received will be treated just like any other messages from friends or family as far as billing.

Haug said the messages will only be sent out during extreme emergency situations or when residents will be asked to take action such as evacuate.

"It will be used very infrequently - probably less than a dozen times a year," Haug said.

Haug said he can recall only one incident in Post Falls - a school lockdown - in which the system was used for landlines in the past three years.

Severe weather alerts, natural disasters, neighborhood crime involving standoffs and road closures due to major hazardous material spills are other examples of when the system may be used.

"We can notify everyone in that affected area within seconds rather than using so many resources to knock on doors," Haug said.

The Panhandle Health District, the county's Office of Emergency Management, North Idaho College and some school districts also have the capability of sending out messages in addition to police.

Citizens can register for the cell phone or email notification service at www.postfallspolice.com or www.kcsheriff.com.