City of Laredo Information Alert System To Conduct Notification Tests
Written by Post Public Information Representative, Aug 16, 2013, Comments Off
Courtesy Xochitl Mora,
Test run to be conducted in anticipation of emergency situation
(Laredo, TX )– In the coming week, the Laredo Information Alert System, the emergency phone number alert notification system in place that would notify residents in the event of an actual emergency, will be conducting tests of the system. Residents whose home phone numbers, or other designated number or e-mail, are part of the approximately 55,000 numbers on file with the system, may get a call or other such notification from the system, telephone number (956) 202-0123 and identified as simply “City of Laredo,” with a sample message: “This is a test of the Laredo Information Alert System. This is only a test. No further action is needed at this time.”
“I don’t want to wait for a disaster or other such situation to test the emergency alert system,” said City Manager Carlos Villarreal. “This is a good way for residents to get used to the system, so that in the event of an actual emergency, the notification process will be quick and efficient.”
With a capability of dialing 6,000 numbers per minute, it takes the system approximately nine and a half minutes to call all 54,763 numbers in the system. In the event of no answer, the system will dial back. Residents who redial the number would automatically hear the recording. If a voice recorder picks up, the system will leave the pre-recorded message.
Residents can designate a home phone number , a mobile number, or even an e-mail address, to receive the notification. To sign up, residents should go to the website www.alertregistration.com/laredotx and create an account to be able to indicate the preferred method of notification. When registering, it is recommended that citizens include as many available contact resources. Residents who do not have access to the internet at home are encouraged to visit any one of the City of Laredo libraries: Main Library, 1120 East Calton Road; Bruni Plaza Branch Library, 1120 San Bernardo; and the newest branch, the Lamar Bruni Vergara Inner City Branch Library, 220 West Plum, to sign up or to help others, such as the elderly, to make sure they are signed up, as well.
The Laredo Information Alert System allows for targeted messages to be sent out, as well as blanket notifications. Emergency messages will be prefixed with a message “This is an emergency alert,” informing individuals to that fact. Other messages may have a prefix message, such as “For information purpose only.”
For more information, please contact 3-1-1.
