County Considers expanding Emergency Notofication Systems

The San Joaquin County, Calif., Sheriff’s Office employs a computer-run dialing system that warns inhabitants in the region of emergency evacuations, missing individuals, and additional crises via prerecorded phone messages. The system can dial and leave brief messages with up to 128 houses in 60 seconds, enough time to tell a substantial number of people of a coming flood, levee breach, or other hazardous situation, notes Les Garcia with the Sheriff’s Office.

Now, however, county authorities are investigating how to utilize this system as part of its area disaster planning. The county is especially vulnerable to emergencies because of its reliance on earthen levees and dams, says Supervisor Jack Sieglock.

County Administrator Manuel Lopez and Emergency Services Director Ron Baldwin announced recently that the county is thinking about purchasing a newer version of its current system, usually referred to as Reverse 911. The plans are in the preliminary phase, and it is not known what the system will cost.

Although Emergency Services has access to the Sheriff’s Office’s present system, Baldwin points out that its scope is restricted since it dials under 40 numbers at a time. Newer systems being launched by private firms, including Reverse 911, permit thousands of houses to be dialed within minutes, he adds.
Abstracted by the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center(NLECTC) from the Stockton Record (CA) (09/14/06); Kane, Greg.