By Tom Jerou
Long Beach resident
What is Reverse 911?
Reverse 911 is a simple way to describe a system that can alert groups of individuals or organizations when emergencies occur that require their attention or participation. Typically, messages are generated at the emergency center where the Reverse 911 computers, telephone lines and Internet connections reside.
The messages can be voice for outward dialing to a list(s) of people (first responders, logistical support, etc.) and the computers can guarantee, to a degree, that the telephone was answered and the message delivered. When a large number of messages need to be sent, the Reverse 911 computers manage the number of available telephone lines and other communications resources to assure the fastest possible delivery of messages to the lists built into the system or generated dynamically if the emergency requires. The delivery can be made to land lines, mobile phones and computers connected to the Internet. Digital information can be sent (email, documents, photos, video, text messages, etc.) to devices that have the capability to process them. Reverse 911 systems require administrative and maintenance services, but nearly all of their functions are performed automatically, doing a job that would not be effective or even possible using live personnel.
How can this benefit the community at-large?
Both Long Beach and Signal Hill have Reverse 911 systems. I have discussed some of the possibilities for the inclusion of community services that could be provided during the idle time available. This idle time contributes to a very expensive cost per call (in Long Beach it is approximately $1 per call) for the system, and in Signal Hill I have been told that the Reverse system has only been used twice. The available time for other uses is approximately 99 percent.
Local communities can easily be supported for services such as alerting concerned individuals to events such the high impact of noise occurrences when military aircraft (F-16s, B-1 Bomber, VC-10s) are scheduled to arrive or depart from the airport. The city councils could alert their interested constituents to last-minute changes to scheduled meetings or to issues to be addressed at council meetings or public review sessions. The same capabilities could be extended to qualified groups that lack the ability to have own their systems. Fees, if any, generated by additional usage could be used to offset the costs of these expensive systems that are rarely put into use.
Systems that are rarely used often do not work as expected when needed the most. The additional usage of these systems also serves as continued live testing of the various components of the Reverse 911 systems providing greater assurance that the system performs properly when emergencies occur.
Effective communication is the heart of good communities. So far, there has been no action generated by any of the Long Beach city management and council members contacted and presented with this idea to use our tax dollars more efficiently and provide the communities with better services. Maybe Signal Hill government can take some action and show that it cares about its communities by helping them communicate more effectively.
