Town Updates Emergency Communication System with Arlington Alerts
Initiated *Test* Phone Call January 24 at 2PM
In the Town’s ongoing mission to enhance communication to the public, we are pleased to announce the launch of Arlington Alerts. Arlington Alerts will replace the current Reverse 911 system and will greatly improve the Town’s ability to communicate with residents during time-sensitive events.
The Town conducted a Town-wide Arlington Alert “test” phone call on January 24 that called residents between 2-5 p.m. The test call was to introduce the service to residents and inform them on how to register to receive Arlington Alerts by text, email, and on their cell phones.
If you received this call, you are in the system. If you would like to add additional contact information, such as cell, text and email. Please register to Arlington Alerts at arlingtonma.gov/subscriber.
The updated service offers faster phone notification (10-20 minutes vs. 3-4 hours for a Town-wide phone call), and adds text and email capabilities. Another reason for this test call is to help ensure the data in the Arlington Alert system is accurate.
“All individuals and businesses should take the time to visit our website and add contact information to include cellular phones and other non-traditional phones as well as email and text addresses,” said Arlington Police Chief, Frederick Ryan. “If your contact information is not in the database you will not receive a call when an urgent message is sent.”
Because it is important for all residents to be in the system, we ask that you reach out to your neighbors who may not have received this phone call and who may need some assistance registering to Arlington Alerts. Your assistance helps keep Arlington a safe place for all.
The Town selected CodeRED® a product of the Emergency Communications Network Inc. (ECN), to provide the backend of the Arlington Alert System. CodeRED® enables local government officials to communicate time-sensitive, personalized messages via voice, email, and text messaging and is utilized by 44% of municipalities in Massachusetts including Cambridge, Bedford, and Lexington.
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