In the event of an emergency, knowing what is happening as soon as possible can help you make the best decisions on how to react. One of the simplest and quickest ways to get that information is to register your phone number and your mobile phone with your local law enforcement office’s reverse 911 system. In an emergency, the reverse 911 system allows your local authorities to contact a large number of people all at once with an automated phone call. Reverse 911 was used to get information to the residents of Boston after the recent marathon bombing. This system may be called something else where you live–ours is Code Red. Many times the landlines will be registered automatically, but if you want notifications to your cell phone, you’ll need to register it separately. Having your cell phone registered is especially important if you are away from home or if your landline phones do not work when the electricity is out. Through our Code Red system, I have received calls about missing children, local preparedness fairs, and most recently important information regarding an extended power outage that I would otherwise not have known. Check with your local law enforcement office and find out if they have a reverse 911 system and how you can get all of your phone numbers signed up to get notifications. You’ll be glad you did.
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