First Lady Promotes Emergency Texting Initiative | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Press Release:

Partners with Safe America to encourage more efficient communication

    Raleigh, N.C.     First Lady Ann McCrory has joined the Safe America Foundation today to encourage North Carolinians to "Text First. Talk Second." when letting those closest to them know that they are safe following a disaster. Governor Pat McCrory declared September as North Carolina Preparedness Month.

    "During North Carolina Preparedness Month, Pat and I join Safe America to encourage the use of text messaging when possible," said First Lady Ann McCrory. "North Carolina has already experienced severe weather this hurricane season and additional systems continue to threaten the southeast. During storm events and other disasters, we are reminding everyone that text messaging can be more effective than a phone call."

    During and after emergencies, SMS text messages will often go through before a call due to the fact that high mobile call volumes can overwhelm providers during these incidents. Preparedness experts have argued that during an emergency and its immediate aftermath, communicating via SMS text messaging should be your first choice. This is because non-essential calls often shutdown wireless phone service and prevent 911 calls from getting through and emergency personnel from being able to communicate with each other. In fact, just a single one-minute phone call takes up the same bandwidth as 800 short SMS text messages.

    "In today's environment, where emergencies seem to always be around the corner, it's critical for people to be prepared to stay in touch when phones lines are overtaxed. Texting is a good alternative to voice communications and is 800 times more likely to connect you. That's why we've made it such an important part of our Foundation's preparedness messaging," said Len Pagano, Safe America President and CEO.

    The first lady's work in raising awareness on this issue is part of the Safe America Foundation's First Spouses Campaign - an effort to engage all First Spouses in emergency preparedness activities. The campaign has since generated support from First Spouses in 22 other states and in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

• Contact: Crystal Feldman
•     govpress@nc.gov