Families and caregivers in Banks County now have a new tool to improve emergency response. The Banks County Sheriff’s Office, EMA, and E-911 launched Logan’s List—a confidential, voluntary registry for residents with special needs.
The program lets households share vital information about loved ones with physical, mental, or neurological conditions. First responders use this information to tailor their approach, avoid triggers, and ensure the safest, most appropriate response.
A growing safety resource in Northeast Georgia
Lawmakers created Logan’s Law in 2021 after a severely autistic West Georgia teen inspired action. The law established a voluntary database to help first responders assist Georgia’s most vulnerable residents.
Banks County joins other Northeast Georgia counties, including Habersham, that already use Logan’s List. In Habersham, E-911 dispatchers store the list in the Computer-Aided Dispatch (CAD) system. When a 911 call involves a registered person or address, an alert provides details—such as if the person is nonverbal, has sensory sensitivities, or tends to wander.
“In an emergency, safety is always a primary concern,” said then-Habersham County E-911 Director Lynn Smith when the county adopted the program. “Logan’s List helps emergency personnel respond more compassionately once dispatched.”
How Logan’s List helps
Logan’s List identifies triggers that may cause distress. It tells first responders who or what to look for. It also ensures the most appropriate and cost-effective response.
If a nonverbal resident calls 911 and stays silent, dispatchers can check the registry and alert responders before they arrive.
“This information helps first responders approach situations with understanding and care,” the Banks County Sheriff’s Office said. “Knowing how to respond to someone with autism, Alzheimer’s, epilepsy, sensory issues, or other conditions can be lifesaving. Logan’s Law bridges that communication gap quickly and respectfully.”
Quick, simple, and confidential
Participation is voluntary. The local E-911 database securely stores records for three years or until the family updates or removes them.
Banks County residents can register online at bankscountysheriff.org/logans-law.
