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With Hurricane Season Underway, Floridians Urged To Enroll In Emergency Contact System

flhsmv.gov/ECI

For the past 10 years, there’s been a system in place allowing Floridians to register their contact information in case of an emergency situation. And, as residents continue to prepare for hurricane season, officials are stressing the importance of enrolling in that program.

So far, 65 percent of Floridians are enrolled in the Emergency Contact Information, or ECI, System. And, the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles wants everyone to register.

“We’re starting to see storms already forming,” said Agency spokeswoman Alexis Bakofsky. “So, we want to remind Floridians that it is really important to have registered their emergency contact information.”

And, she says the ECI system is also the first of its kind in the nation.

“And, what it allows law enforcement officers to do is access a person’s emergency contact information, only in the event of an emergency,” Bakofsky added. “So, for instance, you get into a crash, and your cell phone is locked, and you’re not able to respond to emergency personnel, law enforcement can look up who to call and what friends and/or family you want to designate in the event of an emergency.”

To sign up, visit flhsmv.gov/ECI.

For more news updates, follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter: @SaschaCordner.

Sascha Cordner has more than ten years of public radio experience. It includes working at NPR member station WUFT-FM in Gainesville for several years. She's worked in both radio and TV, serving in various capacities as a reporter, producer and anchor. She's also a graduate of the University of Florida with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications. She is the recipient of 15 awards from the Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), and Edward R. Murrow. Her award-winning stories include her coverage on the infamous “Dozier School for Boys” and a feature titled "Male Breast Cancer: Lost in the Sea of Pink." Currently, Sascha serves as the host and producer of local and state news content for the afternoon news program "All Things Considered" at WFSU. Sascha primarily covers criminal justice and social services issues. When she's not reporting, Sascha likes catching up on her favorite TV shows, singing and reading. Follow Sascha Cordner on Twitter:@SaschaCordner.