New Reverse 911 Call System In South Jersey
by KYW's David Madden
CAMDEN, N.J. (CBS) -- Five South Jersey counties are getting together to offer a new, consolidated emergency alert system in the new year.
Camden, Burlington, Gloucester, Salem and Cumberland Counties are switching to the private Swift 911 system to inform residents in the event of a problem.
Camden County Freeholder Jonathan Young says this reverse 911 plan is far more user-friendly than the Code Red protocol it replaces.
"It might affect their particular system without having to go around to a different system and a longer avenue to get notification out to the residents," Young told KYW Newsradio.
Not only that, it'll help emergency management officials get a better handle on what information is going out, and who is receiving it.
"It has a dynamic and secure database that will allow the most useful information to get to the right people in times of emergency," he said. "Public safety personnel will have the ability to see who's receiving the information and when it is delivered."
People will also be able to select their primary method of contact, add cell phone information and even download an app to their smart phone.