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OC OEM AND GLOBAL CONNECT PARTNER TO SHOWCHASE EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SYSTEM IN OCEAN CITY
2008-06-15
The Emergency Notification System (ENS) is the latest technical system added to Ocean Citys Alert Warning and Communications notification capabilities. Often referred to as "reverse 9-1-1", the system uses a confidential phone database that includes unlisted numbers and quickly delivers an automated emergency phone message. It can make up to 6000 calls per minute. By law, it can only be used when other warning methods would be ineffective, dangerous, or too slow in telling the public to take emergency protective actions.
For example, it is possible that at some time in the future Ocean City police might need to warn you of an armed gunman in your neighborhood. They might tell you to stay inside, lock your doors, and stay away from the windows. Or the Ocean City Department of Fire and Rescue Services may order you to "shelter-in-place" indoors to protect yourself from a dangerous chemical release nearby. In both of these situations, a 911 dispatcher or another authorized official would trace an outline of the danger zone on a computerized map. The system would quickly tell citizens in the affected area what to do by sending an automated phone call directly into their homes.
Limitations:
Although this warning method can be very effective, there are phones that cannot receive ECNS notices:
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) where a computer provides your phone services
Cellular phones, since they are not in the E-911 phone database
TTY/TDD phones (there is no industry-wide technical standard by TTY/TDD manufacturers, so the ECNS cannot be designed to match up to a universal technology)
Landline phones that require caller interaction of any kind
o Telemarketer blocking technology that requires interaction
o Home or office phone systems that require entering/saying an extension, even "0"
The system will leave a message on standard voicemail or on an answering machine, but even for standard landline phones there are still situations that might result in a missed message:
Phone line constantly busy (tied up with the internet, or on another call with no call-waiting service, etc.)
Call-waiting beep ignored by the person on the phone
Person answering the phone does not understand the message or recognize its importance (non-English-speaking, young child, etc.)
Away from the phone (away from home, outside, in the shower, etc.)
Hanging up on the automated message (mistaking it for a telemarketing or prank call)
Although some of these conditions presently exist Global Connect is constantly changing their system to reduce the Emergency Notification Systems limitations and enhance contact ratios for the system. In fact those who utilize cell phone technology as their primary source of communications can sign up for the Emergency Notification System (ENS) at no cost via the internet at the Citys website www.ocnj.us or the Citys Emergency Management website at www.ocemergency.com and click on the Global Connect picture at the top of the page then follow the instructions to be automatically enrolled into the ENS.
How to Respond to an Emergency Notification
Stay on the phone and listen carefully to the entire message - DO NOT HANG UP!
Keep paper and pen by the phone so you can take notes to record details, such as safe evacuation routes if they are specified and that is what you are asked to do. The message will not be repeated.
DO NOT call 9-1-1 to verify the information. You should only call 9-1-1 if you have an actual emergency. Instead, check with a close neighbor to see if they have received the same call and get any information you may have missed. If you truly suspect that you have received a prank phone call impersonating the ENS, report it to the Ocean City Police Department so they can investigate and prosecute anyone who is guilty of this serious crime.
Follow instructions promptly and exactly as they are given. This kind of notification is only issued when fast action is needed to for you to protect yourself.
For Those Who Cannot Receive the Automated Message
If you do not have access to a landline telephone, you will need to work out a notification system with your close neighbors. You may want to let several of them know your situation and ask them to relay any emergency messages to you in a different way. If you rely exclusively on a cell phone or computer for your phone service, you may want to consider adding a landline telephone to your communications services to avoid relying on other people for your emergency notifications, or possibly even missing a notice altogether.