HOW WE SEE IT: Notification System Arrives

— Life in Benton County is a little safer now that an emergency warning system has been installed here.

The new system, unveiled last week to representatives of Benton County cities and towns, uses telephone landlines to alert residents about severe weather, police emergencies, hazardous-material incidents and missing-person reports. People may also sign up to receive e-mails or text messages via their cell phones.

We’ve been hearing about this emergency warning system for quite some time. In 2008, during the last months of County Judge Gary Black’s administration, the Quorum Court voted to support spending $65,000 in Homeland Security grant money on thesystem. But when current County Judge Dave Bisbee assumed office, he decided to reallocate that money to pay for security cameras at the County Administration Building. That angered some justices of the peace, who complained about not being consulted about the change.

In the end, though, Benton County finally got the emergency warning system that its Quorum Court wanted. We’ve said it before, but Bisbee deserves credit for admitting his mistake of pulling the plug on the idea, then correcting that mistake by finally making this thing happen.

Bisbee decided to give it a chance. We encourage all residents to do the same.

Sure, everyone has the right to opt out of the system, but we recommend residents to at least give it a try and see how it works.

You might be quick to dismiss the system’s potential for saving lives. After all, you say, I’ve lived this long without it - do I really need it?

The fact is, you never know. Think of it as another layer of protection for you and your family. It can’t hurt.

Also, as Bisbee pointed out, these phone calls are merely meant to inform people of significant events. So if you get a call in the middle of the night - which is never very pleasant - it’s important to remember that the call is not intended to annoy or stir up panic, but rather to keep folks safe.

Give it a chance. You never know.

Opinion, Pages 5 on 07/27/2010

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