COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Branch County Emergency Management Coordinator Tim Miner says a new weather notification network to keep local government, school, and health agency organizations informed and up to date on storm related forecasts and conditions is ready to roll out this weekend. The protocol has been under development and refined over the past year and Miner says it’s been a matter of getting more agencies to subscribe to the on line system.
He says it’s not a way to advise anyone to shutdown schools or close a business but rather a heads up on what’s forecast and could develop and a system to keep subscribers current on fluid situations. According to Miner, it’s intended for community decision makers and not the general public, per se. For example, it might let management know if a healthcare facility would need to have their employees stay longer or work later, and in essence, assist them in their planning in case of a serious event.
Miner believes more organizations will sign up this winter, especially depending on what unfolds over the next couple of days.
