Essex County's emergency co-ordinator says the region's reverse 911 system is still relevant, but after 12 years the technology has changed a lot.
Phil Berthiaume is gathering input from municipalities, residents and emergency services before putting out a request for proposals.
Berthiaume insists the telephone system works, but says it may not be enough to communicate effectively to residents in the event of an emergency. "It should be a kit bag," he says. "Whether it's social media, alerts coming through desktop applications, through website subscriptions, telephone notifications. Do we look at sirens?"
He hopes to have alternatives for area councils to consider in time for 2016 budget deliberations.
