The city of Edmond plans to install a new "reverse 911" system that will allow officials to contact residents within a specified region with news of an emergency or natural disaster.

The new system will allow dispatchers to mark the location of the emergency on a map, and place computerized phone calls to people near the affected area, communications specialist John Avera told Eyewitness News 5's Steve Voelker.

"This will free up the rescue and emergency workers to do the job of the accident itself, rather than notifying people to evacuate," Avera said.

The system, which can place more than 30 phone calls every 30 seconds, will continue to make the recorded call until someone answers the phone or the computer is shut down.

In the future, Edmond plans to utilize global positioning satellites to keep track of its emergency response vehicles during an emergency.

The satellites will allow dispatchers to keep track of where police and fire vehicles are at all times.

"If we get a call to an address, we'll be able to dispatch the closest car to any call," Avera said.

Avera said that the city is taking bids for the system.