What if 9-1-1 could call you?

It can! Cowlitz County has expanded its ability to provide emergency messages to the public. Using the Emergency Community Notification System (ECNS), local public safety officials can now call YOU directly with detailed instructions about what you should do during an emergency.

This technology allows our department to send an emergency message to land-line telephones in a specified geographic area using a recorded message. If no one answers at your home, the system is able to leave a message on your land-line telephone's voicemail.

Hazards that may result in the use of this system could include volcanic activity, chemical or biological hazards, nearby criminal activity or any event that poses an imminent danger to the health or safety of local citizens.

If you receive a call:

1.) DO NOT HANG UP. Some people mistake this warning call for a telemarketing call because it is automatically dialed and is a recorded message.

2.) LISTEN to the full alert and follow the instructions given.

3.) DO NOT CALL 9-1-1 unless you have an actual emergency at your location.

4.) STAY OFF THE PHONE during the emergency except to pass the message on to others who do not have a land-line telephone.

5.) TUNE INTO LOCAL RADIO OR TV to get more information, unless the order is to evacuate.

The Emergency Notification System does have limitations and may not reach everyone within its target audience.

The system cannot communicate with:

*Cell phones.

*Land-line telephone systems that require the caller to press a number, begin speaking or interact in any other way.

*TTY or TTD telephones for the deal or hard-of-hearing.

*Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telephone service.

If you have any questions regarding the ECNS program, please feel free to call our office at (360) 577-3130.