Floyd County got to try out it's new countywide new countywide radio system Friday with it its first real test and passed with flying colors.

The  ability to communicate proved key in organizing for the search and rescue of a 65-year-old woman lost in the dense forest near Huffaker Road and Woods Road. 

The new system allowed agencies to talk directly with each other without having to go through 911.

Before the new system was put in place, searchers from different agencies would have to relay messages through 911 dispatch.

In this case, the Rome Police Department, Floyd County EMA and Floyd County Sheriff’s Posse were all in the field searching for the missing woman. 

All of the agencies were called out around 3:30 a.m. Friday, and the woman was found at approximately 10:45 a.m. She was taken to the hospital for treatment for exposure.

The 2009 special purpose, local option sales tax package contained $26.7 million to build the new communications system.