Benton County Considering Reverse 911 Calls for Emergencies
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CAMDEN, Tenn. – Benton County has one tornado siren, in the city of Camden, but it often malfunctions. When the siren does work, chairman of the Benton County Commission, Ken Berry said it would successfully alert only 200 of the county’s 16,000 residents. Rather than more costly sirens, Berry says a reverse 911 system could potentially save lives and in a way that the county could actually afford. “Rarely does the county government have an opportunity to actually do something to help the people and in a way that they want,” he said. In previous years when tornadoes have hit the area they have devastated homes and even claimed lives. Benton County residents say that is why they need proper warning. “We are in the middle of tornado season right now, and there is not a better time to do this sort of thing,” Berry said. The reverse 911 system proposal Berry is presenting the commission for a vote works by calling residents on landlines or cell phones during different types of emergencies. “I think it’s a very effective way to spend money. It doesn’t just warn citizens about tornadoes you can also use it for amber alerts, missing children, and criminal activity in the area. It can help the citizens in many ways,” Berry said. Berry says the system would cost the county $30,000 and says that is within the county’s budget. Sergeant Chester Volz of the Camden Police Department thinks County money could possibly be put to better use. “For me it’d be a non-issue ’cause I take my family’s safety into my own hands,” Volz said. Volz said he is concerned people would rely on the reverse 911 system and it could malfunction like the tornado siren in Camden. He says in emergency situations having to operate the system could be a burden on law enforcement. “From a law enforcement standpoint, obviously we care about peoples safety, but there are other ways to promote your own safety,” he said. Dr. Ken Berry said without any unforeseen obstacles the reverse 911 system should move quickly through county commission.
