Arkansans Urged to Prepare for Ice Storm by Signing Up for Smart911

WHO:  

All Arkansans.

WHAT:

With ice storm warnings in effect, all citizens of Arkansas are urged to register for the public safety service, Smart911. Available to all Arkansans, Smart911 allows citizens to create a free, secure Safety Profile online that contains important information about their household. Public safety officials can quickly leverage this data to identify potential challenges and expedite emergency response and recovery efforts during events such as ice storms, as well as to facilitate response to 9-1-1 calls.

WHY:  

Smart911 allows residents of a community to share information about themselves and their families with public safety and emergency management officials. This can include general data on a household - ranging from the identity of residents, locations of bedrooms and utility information - to specific details about disabilities and medical conditions requiring such things as oxygen, dialysis and more.

Should an event such as an ice storm result in a power outage or necessitate evacuations, officials are able to quickly determine which residents require electricity for medical conditions, identify those needing assistance evacuating their homes, and even facilitates the proper handling of pets and livestock. It provides particular peace of mind to those with functional or access needs. Also, if a citizen dials 9-1-1, their Safety Profile is automatically displayed to the call taker, allowing them to send the right response teams to the right location with the right information, expediting emergency response. A Safety Profile is safe and secure, and residents manage their own information.

WHEN/WHERE:    

Arkansans can register for Smart911 online immediately and for free at https://www.smart911.com.