BROOKHAVEN — Lincoln County Emergency Management Agency Director Chris Reid issued a press release encouraging residents of Lincoln County to sign up for Hyper-Reach. The system uses cellular location to send specific information about weather and other important alerts by the Lincoln County EMA.

Adams County has already gone to the alert system to keep residents informed during severe weather events. Lincoln County started using the system Wednesday. Hyper-Reach phone calls went to The Daily Leader office to communicate tornado warnings as they were issued by the National Weather Service.

According to the press release, Hyper-Reach uses phone calls, text and emails to send out information to thousands of geographically targeted homes simultaneously.

““Our job is to protect the citizens of Lincoln County as effectively and cost-efficiently as possible.” Reid said. “We reviewed all the major vendors for emergency notification service, and Hyper-Reach gave us everything we needed at an unbelievable price. We’re excited about this new capability.”

The county plans to use the system to deliver notifications about weather and environmental hazards, criminal activity, and missing persons. Landline phones were automatically enrolled in the system but residents will need to sign their devices up. Lincoln County residents can do so by either by calling or texting “Alert” to 601-435-8111 or by going to Hyper-Reach’s website. 

Residents can additionally download the Hyper-Reach Anywhere app on their phone or tell their Alexa device “Alexa, enable Hyper-Reach,” and follow Alexa’s instructions.

It would be great to sign up for the system before Lincoln County sees another round of severe weather Saturday. According to the National Weather Service, Lincoln County is at an enhanced risk of severe weather. Severe storms will be likely, damaging wind gusts could reach 70 mph and tornadoes are likely with some possibly strong. NWS Jackson advises the timing of the storms will be 8p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.

Check back for more weather updates.