County converting to new weather alert system next week
Grady County will convert its current Automated Weather Alert System next week to a new provider, Swift911.
The alert system, which is free to Grady County residents, will officially switch to the new provider on Wednesday, Aug. 13.
A test message will take place on Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m. Anyone currently registered with Grady County Weather Alert should receive an automated message from Grady County Emergency Management and Grady Board of Commissioners with information about the transition.
Anyone not registered will not receive a call.
Those who do not receive the message or those whose information has changed since registering for the service, may log on the Grady County website to revise or correct any misinformation. Once users click on the Grady County website go to the link for the Swift911 icon and follow a tutorial.
Anyone without Internet access may contact the Grady County Emergency Agency at 229-378-2271 Monday through Thursday and give the needed information: name, current address, phone number for home and or cell.
Also, anyone who wishes not to be contacted by the system may use the same procedure.
The weather alerts are for the following advisories: TORNADO WARNINGS, THUNDERSTORM WARNINGS, and LOCALIZED FLOODING.
Messages are automatically activated by the National Weather Service in Tallahassee, Fla.
The messages are for Grady County subscribers whose residence has been identified by the Weather Service as being in an area that could be impacted.
In the near future, Weather Alerts will be identified by a local number 229-378-3632 as not to be confused with an 800 number or telemarketer.
Grady County Emergency Management Agency Director Jim Ellis points out that there is no guarantee that these warnings will be entirely effective, but should be used as a tool in conjunction with additional sources to help prevent possible harm. Ellis suggests that a weather radio is also an excellent warning device, and that residents should also listen to any weather alerts issued by local news services.
