Matawan Considers Reverse 911 System

The Matawan Borough Council is considering implementing a reverse 911 system. 

According to Sgt. Thomas Falco, coordinator of the Office of Emergency Management, the system would allow emergency personnel to alert residents about possible dangers.

"The alert system is designed to enable local government officials to record, send and track personalized voice, email, text and social media messages. It allows Matawan government officials, police, fire and the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), through OEM, to get messages out," said Sgt. Falco during his presentation to the Council Thursday night.

Alerts can be sent out for road closures, severe weather, power outages, child abductions, crime warnings or for any other reason officials see fit.

Sgt. Falco recommended that the Council select Code Red over other emergency notification systems, saying that it is the most reliable and most cost effective. He is also familiar with Code Red as it is the same emergency alert system that the Monmouth County Sheriff's Office uses.

Code Red is an internet based alert system. No equiptment or computer softward would have to be purchased as it can be accessed through a secure log-in function over the internet.

If the Borough chooses Code Red, they will have the option between two service plans.

For $5,960 per year with a three year license, the Borough would have 12,500 minutes of service. According to Sgt. Falco, that would allow the Borough to handle five to six emergencies a year.

The unlimited plan for non-emergencies costs $6,200 per year with a three year license. The same amount of minutes are available, but any emergency alerts are credited back. This would allow the Borough to also send out notifications if garabage pick-up is disrupted or other less immediate reasons.

Sgt. Falco says he believes there is enough funding in the budget for the system, through the budget line item for OEM, which is $7,000.

The Borough will vote on the emergency alert system at their next regular action meeting. If approved, the earliest the system could go into effect is August 1.