It's been more than two weeks since Dane County's 911 Center may have dismissed a cell phone call from UW-Madison student Brittany Zimmerman before she was murdered.
The fallout and public outcry has been strong. The attention the case has received casts a shadow on 911 centers in general, whether it's warranted or not.
That's why it's so good to hear that Green County's 911 system is technologically sound, though residents may need some education about its purposes.
Two years ago, the sheriff's department was able to use about $29,000 in Homeland Security funds to purchase a reverse 911 system.
The reverse-call system sends out a 30-second phone message to warn people of emergencies, hazardous material releases, natural disasters, bomb or terrorism threats, prison or jail escapes or evacuation notices.
It also can send text messages to phones used by the hearing impaired.
The Green County Sheriff's Department used the reverse 911 system three weeks ago when a Minnesota man dumped his car near a cemetery west of Monroe and walked into the countryside.
The system called homes within a three-mile radius of the area the man had left his car. Some people were confused why they were getting a call from the Sheriff's Department. At least one child answered the phone and became frightened.
The system can make 1,400 calls in an hour. If more calls are needed due to a more dangerous situation, the sheriff's department can contact the 911 reverse call center to request thousands of numbers be called within a few minutes.
The reverse 911 system was used once last year to warn people about flooding and again a couple of weeks ago.
The Green County 911 system received 6,819 calls in 2007. Not all of them were for emergencies.
Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick said people have called 911 when they've missed their turn on the road and need to find out how to get back to where they needed to turn; they've called because they're lost and need directions; or they've called to find out about weather or road conditions.
The 911 system is intended only for emergencies.
The system is doing its job, but the sheriff's department should let the public know about the reverse 911 system so residents know what to expect.
They also should educate people about what constitutes an emergency and a subsequent call to 911.
That knowledge can only make the 911 system stronger.
The fallout and public outcry has been strong. The attention the case has received casts a shadow on 911 centers in general, whether it's warranted or not.
That's why it's so good to hear that Green County's 911 system is technologically sound, though residents may need some education about its purposes.
Two years ago, the sheriff's department was able to use about $29,000 in Homeland Security funds to purchase a reverse 911 system.
The reverse-call system sends out a 30-second phone message to warn people of emergencies, hazardous material releases, natural disasters, bomb or terrorism threats, prison or jail escapes or evacuation notices.
It also can send text messages to phones used by the hearing impaired.
The Green County Sheriff's Department used the reverse 911 system three weeks ago when a Minnesota man dumped his car near a cemetery west of Monroe and walked into the countryside.
The system called homes within a three-mile radius of the area the man had left his car. Some people were confused why they were getting a call from the Sheriff's Department. At least one child answered the phone and became frightened.
The system can make 1,400 calls in an hour. If more calls are needed due to a more dangerous situation, the sheriff's department can contact the 911 reverse call center to request thousands of numbers be called within a few minutes.
The reverse 911 system was used once last year to warn people about flooding and again a couple of weeks ago.
The Green County 911 system received 6,819 calls in 2007. Not all of them were for emergencies.
Green County Sheriff Randy Roderick said people have called 911 when they've missed their turn on the road and need to find out how to get back to where they needed to turn; they've called because they're lost and need directions; or they've called to find out about weather or road conditions.
The 911 system is intended only for emergencies.
The system is doing its job, but the sheriff's department should let the public know about the reverse 911 system so residents know what to expect.
They also should educate people about what constitutes an emergency and a subsequent call to 911.
That knowledge can only make the 911 system stronger.
