(GULFPORT, Miss.) - Harrison County residents now can register their cell phones to receive text messages and voicemails in emergency situations.
The county uses Firstcall Emergency Notification to send out information, including weather alerts and police emergencies.
For example, the county sends messages when there are freeze warnings or dangerous river stages.
Gulfport police sent out a message when a man shot two people last month in Orange Grove and then went on the run.
The sheriff's department has used the notification system if a prisoner breaks out of jail.
Rupert Lacy, emergency manager for the county, tells The Sun Herald the county can send information to everyone or just to people in a certain area.
Information from: The Sun Herald, http://www.sunherald.com
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
