Kentucky Adds Speed, Accuracy to Emergency Communications with Ten-County Implementation of The Communicator!

Business Editors/High-Tech Writers

FRANKLIN, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 8, 2001

-- High-Speed Notification System From Dialogic Communications

Corporation (DCC) Enables Counties to be More Proactive, Precise in

Response to Threat of Manmade and Natural Disasters --

The Kentucky Division of Emergency Management (KyEM) has embarked on a wide-scale implementation of The Communicator!(TM) high-speed notification system from Dialogic Communications Corporation (DCC), with the acquisition of ten systems to be installed in counties throughout northeastern Kentucky. The Communicator, which is currently deployed by hundreds of mission-critical operations worldwide, will be installed in the neighboring counties of Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Floyd, Greenup, Johnson, Lawrence, Magoffin, Martin and Pike, for the purpose of alerting response teams and residents regarding a host of potentially dangerous situations.

The Communicator enables organizations to automate call-out procedures for delivering emergency, informational and time-sensitive messages to numerous individuals, regardless of complexity or size (from a single response unit to an entire community-at-risk). Fast and efficient, the system contacts people by phone, pager and cellular; delivers incident-specific information or life-saving instruction; confirms message receipt through touch-tone response; and prints/faxes comprehensive reports detailing notification results.

Since 1998, over 48 victims have been hospitalized and the safety of thousands of residents has been threatened due to chemical accidents in Kentucky. To enhance community awareness and emergency response levels in the event of future hazardous materials (HAZMAT) incidents or other critical situations, KyEM Area Manager Marcia Salyer spearheaded the acquisition of The Communicator systems. "After evaluating our options, The Communicator was by far the most comprehensive and efficient solution for our emergency communications network," said Salyer. "The system enables us to be more proactive and precise in our response to the threat of manmade and natural disasters."

Salyer found The Communicator's advanced functionality to be a key advantage in addressing the counties' multitude of possible emergencies, enabling the KyEM to create preplanned scenarios for all imaginable events before they occur. Each scenario can be set up for quick activation, complete with incident-related instructions, call-out lists and message delivery procedures, allowing staff to launch first warnings within 30-60 seconds of event detection. Scenarios are activated quickly and easily from the desktop, without tying up additional manpower, so staff can focus on critical tasks at hand verses manual calling methods.

DuPont, which has a chemical facility in the area, acquired The Communicator systems for the counties as part of a judicial settlement with EPA and the Department of Justice. The Communicator's proven capabilities contribute to the emergency notification requirements of the chemical industry's Responsible Care(R) program, which was developed to ensure the safest possible management for the handling of chemical products.

Beyond HAZMAT incidents, the counties will deploy The Communicator for community-wide notifications during such potential Kentucky-area threats as inclement weather, forest fires and landslides, as well as energy-related hazards such as power outages and water shortages.

"The Communicator will give county residents the early warning needed to take precautionary action for protecting life and property before a disaster strikes," said Salyer. Last year, Kentucky disasters exceeded $1.8 million due to severe weather alone, underscoring the need for a fast and efficient emergency communications system to help minimize vulnerability.

The system will also be used to rally community-wide assistance during searches for missing children or elders, and can provide criminal activity alerts to local businesses and Neighborhood Watch groups. On days when a personal visit by volunteers is not made to the counties' homebound residents, it will be used to conduct wellness checks.

"The Communicator provides such versatility that it can be used for almost any communications scenario," said Salyer. "The possibilities for using the system are endless."

About Dialogic Communications Corporation

Since 1982, hundreds of public and private organizations spanning 22 countries have integrated DCC's proven solutions into their emergency and corporate communications networks, making the company the established leader in high-speed notification technology. The Smithsonian recognized DCC's vision and leadership in April 2000, with the company's induction into the ComputerWorld Smithsonian Collection, at the National Museum of American History. For more information, contact Franklin, Tennessee-based DCC at 800/723-3207 or visit the company online at dccusa.com.

Contacts for Press Only:

-- Dave Krikac, DCC VP of Marketing, 800/723-3207

-- Marcia Salyer, Area Manager, Kentucky Emergency Management, 606/886-9157