HOUSTON, TX -- FirstCall Emergency Alert Notification Network, a major provider of emergency notification alerts, continues to assist municipalities, universities and industry with customized messages on recovery information and updates. FirstCall municipal clients are sending updates today to citizens. Universities and K-12 schools are updating students and parents. Petro-chemical clients are updating citizens and employees about restarting operations. The FirstCall Network is reaching storm-affected citizens wherever they are currently residing.
FirstCall delivered 1.4 million calls, text messages and other critical communication for clients regarding Hurricane Ike. “Saving lives and property is very serious business for FirstCall. As Hurricane Ike approached the Texas and Louisiana coasts, FirstCall stood ready and able to assist its Gulf Coast clients by issuing mandatory evacuation orders,” said C. J. “Red” Delatte, Executive Vice President of FirstCall Network, Inc.
During and after the storm, FirstCall notified citizens of Hurricane Ike’s projected path and provided orders to evacuate the area or locate to an emergency shelter. These time critical emergency alerts were, in some cases, potential life saving information issued by Federal, State and local governmental agencies, universities and the petro-chemical plants. Instant emergency notification also benefited first responders as the severity of Hurricane Ike’s imminent danger became clear. The teams received the most up-to-date information possible, affording first responders precious extra time to stage in ready position.
The FirstCall Instant Emergency Alert Notification Network was activated by clients with updated messages relaying road closures, information on power outages, changes in curfew time, availability of relief supplies and when they can return back home.
FirstCall utilized 3 Network Operations Centers (NOC) to immediately transmit voice calls to home, work landlines and cell phones, text messages, email and other specialized communications. These included the fully redundant centers in Las Vegas, NV, Philadelphia, PA and the Louisiana center.
Before and after the hurricane most of the hardest hit areas used FirstCall including the Texas Counties of Galveston, Chambers, Orange, Hardin, Jefferson, Victoria, Liberty and the Louisiana Parishes including Calcasieu, St. Mary, Plaquemines and Iberia. In addition, the Southeast Texas Alerting Network (STAN) and EHCMA in Harris County, TX again used FirstCall’s Inbound 800 number Hurricane Community Information hotline.
FirstCall Interactive Network is an emergency notification system utilized throughout the U.S. by Federal, State agencies and local municipalities, universities and industry. The FirstCall notification system is designed to protect lives and property in emergencies such as hurricanes, wildfires, floods and chemical releases. FirstCall’s Emergency Notification System works with landline phones, cell phones, text messaging devices, email, pagers, TVs, PC screens and digital signage. FirstCall has provided nationally recognized high-speed emergency notifications for more than 10 years. FirstCall is the only emergency notification company with a director who is certified by both FEMA and IAEM, and has 20 years of experience in emergency management. http://www.firstcall.net/