New Jefferson County EMA technology provides severe weather updates, alerts in several languages
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New Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency technology is providing severe weather updates and alerts in several languages ahead of a weekend threat.
Jim Coker is the director.
"We serve everybody in the county, and we can't leave any portion of the population unserved," Coker said.
As Coker prepares now for severe weather, he said nothing is more important than making sure everyone has access to life-saving information.
"If I'm asking you to seek shelter right now, you have got to have the exact right message," Coker said.
At the end of 2024, the agency unveiled a new software system that allows its website and app "JeffCoAlerts" to be available in eight different languages. The new technology was years in the making.
"We had to study how to do it," Coker said. "The software developers had to make it work. And especially because we wanted it in multiple languages, not just two languages."
A drop-down feature on the Jefferson County EMA website allows users to choose their language. Users can also do the same thing if they download the JeffCoAlerts app, and that will also allow critical alerts to come in the language of their choice. They are options Coker said came into focus four years ago.
"In 2021," Coker said. "In January, the city of Fultondale was hit by a tornado at 10:30 at night. And some of the victims of the tornado lived in mobile homes, and they were Hispanic. So that also propelled us to seek further action."
Fultondale fire Chief Justin McKenzie remembered the twister.
"It was very important and turning point for us to know, hey, we need to get information out," McKenzie said. "Not just English, but in our Hispanic communities. So now, with this new Civic Plus alert, we're able to send it in multiple languages, regardless of what the community is."
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With thousands of people now under the threat of severe weather, Coker said he is glad to see the new technology serve a vital need.
"Part of the messaging is to give people time to make a critical decision," Coker said. "When you have a storm, tomorrow's a possibility, especially in nighttime storm, you may not have much time at all. So we ask that everyone has multiple ways to get warnings."