EMERGENCY AGENCIES GIVEN PHONES, PAGERS

NEW MADRID -- Emergency management associations in 10 Southeast Missouri counties, including Cape Girardeau, will receive cellular phones, pagers and free air time to provide improved communications during disaster recoveries.

Ameritech Cellular and Paging will provide 24 cellular phones and 20 pagers to emergency agencies surrounding the New Madrid fault line.

The Southeast Missouri Emergency Management Association and Ameritech Cellular and Paging announced the program Wednesday from New Madrid, site of a major earthquake in 1811.

"In the event of a natural disaster, the ability to effectively coordinate initial relief efforts is extremely important," said Jerry Uhlmann, director of the Missouri Emergency Management Agency, who was on hand for the announcement along with representatives of county agencies.

"The cellular phones and pagers donated by Ameritech will provide essential services for each of the emergency management agencies surrounding the New Madrid fault line," said Uhlmann.

Ameritech has provided two cellular phones and two pagers to agencies in New Madrid, Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Madison, Mississippi, Perry, Scott, Stoddard and Wayne counties. In addition, Pemiscot and Dunklin counties will receive cellular phones.

Ameritech also will provide necessary training sessions for rescue, recovery workers and volunteers regarding the proper use of the equipment.

"Our intention is to help local communities address the issues that are important to them in which Ameritech can help," said Donna Hanschen, area manger of Ameritech Cellular and Paging. "We're pleased to be working with each of the 12 emergency agencies to actively demonstrate the effectiveness of wireless technologies during emergency situations."

The systems will be used in crucial periods following an earthquake, flood, tornado, hazardous spill or other disaster when ordinary landline phone service may be out of order.

In the case of an earthquake, even cellular phones may be out of services for a short period. Outside of California, the greatest potential for an earthquake in the U.S. exists along the New Madrid fault, which extends from 120 miles from Cairo, Ill. to Marked Tree, Ark.

Ameritech has implemented other public-safety and cellular-phone-donation programs They include "The Cellular Patrol," a program to support local policing efforts; "Stay Put, Stay Safe," designed to help distressed motorists on the highway; and "Ameritech's Bus Connection," a program to help ensure school bus safety.