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SUMMIT COUNTY -- More reverse 911 systems are being used by law enforcement during emergencies, but people who use only cell phones might not get the message.
Provo city and the Summit County Sheriff's Office recently announced new reverse 911 systems. They're designed to call and warn people in specific areas about potential dangers, like floods, fires or chemical spills.
But Summit County sheriff's detective Ronald Bridge says right now the system relies only on landline phone numbers given to police by the phone company. More and more people are getting rid of landlines, though, so Bridges is asking people to go to the Summit County Web site and register their cell phone number and address.
They're asking people to also register their landline numbers to make sure the system has the correct address linked with the number.
Bridge says people can rest assured that if they register their cell number with police it will only be used as part of the emergency call system.
Provo city also is asking its residents to registers their numbers on the city's Web site.
All businesses should register, as well as all individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number or address within the last year, or who use a cellular phone as their primary home phone.
Bridge says the system can call and alert tens of thousands of people an hour.
E-mail: rjeppesen@ksl.com
