Signing up for AlertSCC is one of the easiest steps you can take to prepare yourself and your family for an unexpected event. It's free, and it takes only minutes. AlertSCC can reach you wherever you are to provide information and instructions in a variety of emergency situations, which may include: - Flooding, wildfires and subsequent evacuations
- Public safety incidents, including crimes, that immediately affect your neighborhood
- Post-disaster information about shelters, transportation, or supplies
The AlertSCC emergency notification system may be used for a variety of notifications related to earthquakes, fires, crime incidents, hazardous material incidents, and infectious disease information. AlertSCC will send voice messages to phone numbers included in the emergency 911 database, 411 telephone directory database, and any other phone numbers. AlertSCC will also send text messages to e-mail and SMS addresses signed up at AlertSCC.com. AlertSCC combines the speed of the Internet with the massive reach of multiple communications networks – traditional phone, high-speed internet, and wireless – to send emergency alerts and instructions to Santa Clara County residents and visitors. AlertSCC allows authorized emergency services personnel from your city and the County to send messages simultaneously to phone numbers included in the 911 and 411 directory listings, and to every phone number, SMS address, and email address you sign up: - Voice messages reach your home phone and cell phone
- Text messages reach your cell phone and other text-capable wireless devices
- Messages reach your e-mail address
- Messages reach TTY receiving devices for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing individuals
Based on the nature, location, and scope of an emergency, you may receive alerts from your city or the County. For example, in the event of a public safety incident immediately affecting your neighborhood, an alert would likely be from your city. In a natural disaster affecting the entire region, you may receive emergency response information from your city, the County, or both.
AlertSCC uses information from the emergency 911 and 411 databases to send phone messages, so your landline home or business phone number should already be included. However, the only cell phone numbers and e-mail addresses that are included are those that people sign up at AlertSCC.com. To receive alerts regardless of where you are, sign up all of your phone numbers - home, work and cell - and all of your email addresses. Update your contact information in AlertSCC so you can receive information and instructions in the event of an emergency. Mass notification systems like AlertSCC are being increasingly adopted by cities, counties, state and Federal agencies, and large public institutions like school districts and universities. Cities, counties, and other public entities across the country have used emergency notification systems to warn people within a targeted area affected by a potentially life-threatening public safety incident, and to alert entire populations of hazards. The systems have proven to be successful emergency management tools in a variety of situations, including: - San Diego County residents received emergency alerts with evacuation notices during devastating wildfires.
- The St. Charles Parish School District in Louisiana relies on an emergency notification system to help manage the preparation for and recovery after Hurricane Katrina.
The personal phone numbers and email addresses you sign up with AlertSCC are confidential and secure. The information is used only by authorized County or city personnel; it is not shared with any private company. Policy and contract agreements prohibit AlertSCC personal contact information from being shared, sold, traded, leased or loaned to outside parties. Personal contact information used by AlertSCC is secured physically and electronically.
Currently, AlertSCC messages are only sent in English. We hope to enhance AlertSCC in the future. Even though AlertSCC messages are in English, they can still be helpful to individuals who prefer a language other than English, alerting them that an emergency is happening and that they should seek additional information from news sources in their preferred language. In extreme emergencies, AlertSCC will try to contact you at all your phone number and contact points, whether provided by you or by the 911 and 411 databases. In less severe emergencies, AlertSCC will call the number provided by the 411 database and the number you indicate as your primary phone number when you sign up.
No. AlertSCC will supplement the region’s existing emergency communication methods, thus augmenting public safety and first responder services. It will not take the place of the 911 and other communication and notification systems, such as radio systems, that police, fire and other emergency personnel currently use. Television, radio and County/city web sites will continue to broadcast important announcements as well. If your city already has a mass notification system, it will be maintained until it is transitioned into AlertSCC. Yes, but only if you sign up a phone number outside the County with AlertSCC. In general, the system has been found to work with these devices. However, there are several varieties of call screening devices which use differing protocols for screening, so some may require pre-programming to allow the County's or city's telephone number to pass through. If a line is busy or unanswered, AlertSCC will try to call again. If the call does not go through after three attempts, the system will stop attempting to deliver the message. If the phone is answered by a voicemail or answering machine, the message will be left on the answering device.
If you answer the AlertSCC call, you can follow the instructions at the end of the message to hear a replay. If you do not answer the AlertSCC call when it occurs, you may dial 1-877-REPLAY-1 (1-877-737-5291) from the phone that was called and listen to any message that was sent to that phone number.
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