Press Release

Montgomery County Unveils Emergency Preparedness Package

Mobile App, Reverse 911, 2-1-1 & Social Media help county in managing emergency situations

FONDA - County Executive Matthew L. Ossenfort and Emergency Management Director Jeffery T. Smith announced, at a press conference on Tuesday, the release of an Emergency Preparedness Package. The package of multiple tools that county residents can utilize to be better prepared includes a brand new mobile app, Reverse 911, a 2-1-1 agreement and a continued push to get the word out and keep citizens informed on social media (Facebook & Twitter).

The app is a new innovative approach to help Montgomery County citizens, businesses and visitors prepare for emergencies and to alert them to active emergency situations. The Montgomery County NY EMO app is available for smartphones and tablets free of charge from the app stores. Users who download the app can see the local weather forecast, radar and alerts. Other key features include Emergency Management Facebook (Montgomery County NY Emergency Management) and Twitter (@MontgomeryNYEMO) feeds, Hyper-Reach registration, NY Alerts sign-up and emergency preparedness resources for eight different kinds of emergencies.

"I encourage all Montgomery County residents and business owners to download this app onto their smartphones and tablets," Ossenfort said. "I applaud the effort from our Emergency Management Office to use the newest technology to develop something that will help people be better prepared."

"We all want Montgomery County citizens and businesses to be better prepared, in the event of another emergency," said Legislator Joseph M. Isabel, Chairman of the Public Safety Committee. "This app is something that every resident can have ready and use during an emergency."

"We have been concentrating on being better prepared and communicating better with the public and this addition will help us on both of those fronts," Smith said. "With September being National Preparedness Month and an added focus on educating the public about how to prepare for emergencies, this is ideal timing to release this app."

The Montgomery County NY Emergency Management Office app was created by MyEMAapp.com, a division of OCV, LLC, which specializes in mobile app development for public safety and emergency preparedness. With more than 100 apps in the app stores, OCV also develops apps for sheriffs offices, police departments, municipalities, schools, religious organizations and non-profits.

"In today's world, where nearly 200 million persons are smartphone users, mobile apps offer organizations a better way to connect with the public - wherever they are and whether or not they have power," said Suzy Keenan, communications strategist with OCV.

Reverse 911 and 2-1-1 are both telephone service tools used to get information to people quickly. Reverse 911 is the most nationally recognized emergency notification solution for public safety and calls residents in an emergency to provide valuable information. 2-1-1 offers a central place where information can be updated as conditions change, eliminating the need for numerous temporary hotlines. Utilizing both programs frees up 911 operators and emergency responders to deal with immediate threats to life and property.

"Montgomery County will be stronger, healthier and better prepared to handle future emergencies thanks to its partnership with 2-1-1," said Brian Hassett, President & CEO of United Way for the Greater Capital Region.