Reverse 911 played helpful role in Robinson fire

ROBINSON, Ill. (WTHI) - Many Robinson, IL community members received a phone call Tuesday night that warning them about a fire .

The message warned surrounding homeowners of possibly dangerous black smoke released from a fire at the former Brigg’s Pottery Plant.

If a homeowner received the warning, that means they either had a working landline or they’d registered their cell phone to the Crawford County Reverse 911 system.

Dispatch operated the Reverse 911 system and called almost 600 people.

Tyler Lowrance, Crawford County 911 Coordinator said, "This might have been the biggest emergency we've used it for. In the past we've used it for boil orders for water customers but still this is probably the most important we've used it."

But Lowrance said the Reverse 911 system uses data from telephone carriers to call landlines in the county only.

"But that doesn't include cell phones and now a days there's more and more cell phones and people are even giving up their landlines. So they’re not going to be in the system if that's the case, if they’re only using cell phones,” said Lowrance.

Lowrance mentioned ever since the Robinson fire, more people in the community registered their phone numbers which boosted their numbers.

"You can have a whole family get notified that way, so it's extremely important because we want to reach as many people as we can,” said Lowrance.

To register a landline or cell phone click on this link.