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NEWS

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Prepare for the Worst. Hope for the Best.

Better protect your home from disasters

 


 

 

 

The Countdown Begins!

Less than two months -- more specifically six weeks - just 41 days left until Census Day 2010.  Is your community ready?  Complete Count Committees throughout the country are gearing up to conduct the 2010 Census.  It's extremely important to make sure that the questionnaires distributed in your community are completed and returned.  Every questionnaire returned represents a direct return of federal and state dollars for numerous programs over the next ten years.   Watch for your Census Update each week for useful tips and other information to promote the 2010 census in your community.   

 

Proclaim March 8 - 14, 2010 as Georgia Census Week

Take steps now to raise awareness about the census in your community!  The Georgia Complete Count Committee Task Force has provided a template proclamation that your Board of Commissioners may want to adopt recognizing March 8 - 14 as Georgia Census Week.   You can also use the template press release to promote the adoption of the census proclamation. 

 

Complete County Committees

It's not too late for your community to get started.  The U.S. Census Bureau has developed a Complete Count Committee Guide for Local Leaders, and you can register your Complete Count Committee through the Georgia Census 2010 to keep up with other news and information on the census.  The Georgia Complete Count Committee Task Force maintains a map that shows the percentage of census forms returned in 2000 as well as the Complete Count Committees registered.  Make it your goal to increase your community's percentage in 2010!

 

And Another Reason...

Time and again, you've heard how important it is for the census to get an accurate count for your community.  But, do you really know how often the census data is used?  From federal and state legislative districting to planning for emergency management, transportation, schools and much more, the population data collected this year stands as the basis for much decision making for the next decade.  Check out this list of 50 Uses of Census Data.

 

Focus on Communications

How do you provide local government news to your community?  Through news releases, your Web site, e-newsletters?  Take advantage of the creative communications materials developed by the U.S. Census Bureau that are available for your use.  Link to one of the 30-second public service announcements from your Web site or include it in your weekly e-newsletter.    The U.S. Census also has developed a brochure to explain how the census works that is available in many languages.  This How People are Counted Brochure may be useful in reaching minorities in your community.  Don't forget to contact your local media and enlist their help in spreading the word about the census.  Encourage them to check out the news releases and other information available in the U.S. Census Bureau Newsroom.

 

Check out Recent Census Media Coverage:

·         Georgia County Government Magazine - "Progressive Leader:  It's Up to Us!" (Feb. 2010)

·         Atlanta Journal Constitution - "Census Outreach to Hard-to-Count Groups Ratchets Up" (Feb. 9, 2010)

·         NorthFulton.com - "Be Counted:  It Counts in Forsyth" (Feb. 15, 2010)

·         Thomaston Times "City Begins Promotion of Upcoming Census" (Feb. 16, 2010)

·         CNBC - "2010 Census May Show Boomer Impact on Future Economy" (Feb. 17, 2010)

 

 


 

 

Heard County Commission Chair June Jackson announced that the Heard County Board of Commissioners has contracted with Emergency Communications Network, Inc., for its "CodeRED" high-speed telephone emergency notification services. The CodeRED system gives county public safety officials the ability to deliver pre-recorded emergency telephone notification/information messages to targeted areas or the entire county at a rate of up to 60,000 calls per hour. Examples of times when the CodeRED system could be utilized are:

 Severe weather warnings

Evacuation notice & route

Missing person

Fires or Floods

Public health emergencies

Chemical spill or Gas leak

 Sheriff Ross Henry and Fire Chief Scott Blue, cautioned that such systems are only as good as the telephone database supporting them. "If your phone number is not in the database, you will not be called". The CodeRED system not only offers faster calling rates and improved message delivery, it gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own phone numbers directly to the system's telephone database. Sheriff Henry emphasized that this is an extremely important feature.

 To ensure no one is omitted, Chief Blue urges all individuals and businesses to log onto the Heard county website, www.heardcountyga.com or the department website www.heardfire.com and follow the link to the "CodeRED Residential and Business Data Collection" page. Those without Internet access may call Heard County Fire & Emergency Services at (706-675-6186), Monday through Friday, (9AM-5PM) to give their information over the phone. Required information includes first and last name, street address (physical address, no P.O. boxes), city, state, zip code, and primary phone number, additional phone numbers (optional).

 No one should automatically assume his or her phone number is included, Sheriff Henry said. 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, and who use a cellular phone as their primary home phone.

 Chief Blue explained that the "CodeRED system is a geographical based notification system, which means street addresses are needed to select which phone numbers will receive emergency notification calls in any given situation. The system works fine for cell phones too, but we need to have a street address". People who have recently moved but kept the same listed or unlisted phone number also need to change their address in the database.

To get started click the CodeRED link above or below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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