West Virginia Press Association
KIMBALL, W.Va. — The Hatfield-McCoy Trails (HMT) is partnering with local emergency response agencies to urge the use of the ‘what3words’ phone application on its trails and throughout its service areas.
The ‘what3words’ phone application assigns a unique address (made of 3 random words) to every 10 square feet worldwide. Unlike similar applications that use street addresses, ‘what3words’ location data is precise – using GPS information to enable emergency responders to receive and communicate locations anywhere assistance is needed. The application ensures faster emergency response times and is a valuable tool for trail riders who can use it to navigate, pinpoint, and share locations on the trails.
“This app will save lives and aid all our riders in navigating the over 1,000 miles of trails that make up our Hatfield-McCoy system”, said John Fekete, Hatfield-McCoy Trails Deputy Executive Director. “We are placing signage on the trails, inside of our trailhead locations, on our trail maps, and on our website regarding how to install and use this important tool.”
Kimball, West Virginia Fire Chief Jimmy Gianato, was instrumental in bringing ‘what3 words’ to the attention of the Hatfield-McCoy Trails staff. “We’ve seen positive results from ‘what3 words’. It has enabled us to locate individuals who have become lost with no idea of where they are. With cell service often unavailable in our remote areas, the application allows users to text their location to the nearest emergency response center and communicate exactly where assistance is needed, saving precious time.” said Gianato.
The ‘what3words’ application is free and easy to use. Location information can be shared over text, radio, or digitally, minimizing errors when locations are passed between teams and agencies. The application navigates with or without a phone signal or data, and users can use the application’s compass to get to any ‘what3words’ location. To make the most of ‘what3words’, the developer recommends setting up a free account that allows users to save locations, organize favorites with lists, and sync locations across multiple devices. To learn more about ‘what3words’visit: https://what3words.com/business
