TISHOMINGO, OK -- A new warning system in Johnston County could protect residents in case of natural disasters. It's technology that emergency officials say is vital, especially in the wake of the May tornado that touched down in Coleman. And as Claudia de la Pena reports, they hope this new alert system helps save lives.

This is the new emergency notification system--called the Blackboard Connect system. It sends residents alerts when there is a tornado, flooding or other emergency.

"It can be alert through the texting, e-mail and your voicemail," said District One County Commissioner Roy Blevins.

Blevins says city and county leaders worked together to get the system in place that will hopefully improve the safety of the entire community.

"All the emergency departments will be working on this," Blevins said.

With the only storm siren in the entire county located in Tishomingo, many Coleman residents were not aware of the tornado that touched down in their area two months ago.

"When firefighters are busy trying to take care of the situation it's really difficult for them to go door to door. This way we can do it through a calling system," said Emergency Management Director Betty Roan.

Roan is in charge of the messaging system.
She says when the weather turns severe, she activates the Emergency Operations Center, or EOC.
Then activates the warning system, which notifies her when people have received alerts.

"It allows us another way of warning our citizens and its a fairly economical way of doing it," said Roan.

She says if you have a land line, or a hard wired phone, you will automatically be entered into the call list.
If you use only a cell phone, you must fill out a form to be put into the emergency alert system.