We provide high-speed emergency notifications to ....
Municipalities, State Agencies, Federal Agencies, institutions of Higher Education, Schools, Industries, and Corporations.
The FirstCallEmergency Notification System is a fast, effective, and efficient method for delivering real-time alerts. We are a focused interactive multi-media emergency communications solution.
Instantly Notify Everyone by ....
Phone Cell SMS EmailInfo Line as well as by pagers, TTY/TTD devices, computer desktops, Windows Mobile devices and digital signage. The system can be activated over our secure website using any Internet connection or by calling our 24 hour operators from any phone.
How we provide alerts ....
Alerts are provided through our ∞infinity Emergency Notification Suite of services: Emergency Notification Service - Our battle tested service provides GIS map and / or Fixed List notification utilizing our web based or operator assisted user interface. BlurtAlert for Desktops - BlurtAlert will override the regular application and display real time, visible instant pop-up notification of alerts on all PC screens, Digital Signage, and Windows Mobile based phones. Inbound Community Information Line Service - An important tool that is an inbound toll free service, which allows emergency professionals the ability to provide the community with timely recorded information about emergencies occurring in an area.
Digital Signage Emergency Service - Selected features of the Blurt Desktop Alert for instant pop-up notification of alerts on Digital Signage and also has an easy to use content creation, content management, and High-Definition playback interface.
All of these services are integrated Software as a Service (SaaS) hosted solutions
How we are rated after bid evaluations compared to other vendors ...
The comparison scorecard chart below is based on the analysis of public data available in multiple public filings regarding RFP submittals.
Ask us for detailed analysis information about a notification company you might currently be considering. See why we consistently outpace other vendors.
FirstCall is dedicated to investing in R&D to bring new "First to Market" technology to our clients
Scorecard Chart
Maximum Points
FirstCall Network
Vendor 1
Vendor 2
Vendor 3
Vendor 4
Vendor 5
Vendor 6
35.00
30.27
27.20
24.94
21.34
22.40
21.34
19.86
8.00
6.44
5.92
5.87
4.71
4.71
4.71
4.09
10.00
8.05
7.40
7.33
5.89
5.89
5.89
5.11
4.00
3.22
2.96
2.93
2.35
2.35
2.35
2.05
3.00
2.42
2.22
2.20
1.77
1.77
1.77
1.53
10.00
8.05
7.40
7.33
5.89
5.89
5.89
5.11
30.00
26.10
2.61
5.22
23.36
19.58
10.44
19.58
100.00
84.56
62.51
62.06
70.63
66.85
57.71
62.30
The larger the number equals a better ranking score. For example: Pricing has 30 available points. A score for a vendor of 25 indicates a low cost bid price. A score of 30 is the benchmark and equals the lowest cost bid price.
FirstCall, the industry's pioneer, has experience, battle tested proven performance and a satisfied client base
Call us at 800-653-9232 to speak to a trained expert.
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Featured Partner Sirens FirstCall's partner for physical Mass Notification is McCord Communications who is uniquely qualified to provide your physical security public warning needs.McCord Communications represents a wide variety of products for Mass Notification Systems to accommodate almost every situation . Top quality in products and service is the approach we take to our business and that is reflected in the systems we design and all the work that we do.
Outdoor sirens and other warning devices can add security and help communities prepare for extreme weather and other possible dangers. McCord Communications offers high- powered voice and tone-only siren systems to meet your communities' needs. McCord Communications has over 15 years of system design, implementation, installation and maintenance of Whelen outdoor warning products.
News Release --- FirstCall Network delivered, 1.2 million of calls, text messages and other critical communication for clients regarding Hurricane Gustav. 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.
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.
Approximately 1,330 people died during Hurricane Katrina. FirstCall's Emergency Notification Service delivered evacuation orders so that towns and cities saved citizens from, as the Governor of Louisiana stated, "almost certain death".
FirstCall notified citizens of Hurricane’s Gustav’s, Ike's and Katrina's projected path and provided orders to evacuate the area or locate to an emergency shelter. The FirstCall Instant Emergency Alert Notification System was activated by clients several times with updated messages, relaying evacuation routes, road closures, evening curfews and availability of relief supplies. Instant emergency notification also benefited first responders as the severity of the imminent danger became clear. The FirstCall system provided emergency response teams with the most up-to-date information possible, affording first responder’s precious extra time to stage in ready position.
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.
In addition, FirstCall mobilized its FirstCall Mobile Response Unit (MRU) to provide another layer of protection to Hurricane Gustav affected clients. FirstCall, according to company research, is the only emergency alert notification company to put its entire Network Operation Center software on wheels.
The units go pre-storm to locations outside of areas that will be affected and are staged in that location and then they are driven back into areas where they can be of assistance. Traveling with a mobile MRU is a trained emergency crisis specialist. ______________________
St. Lucie County's New Emergency Notification System Becomes Operational
Fort Pierce, FL Sept 4, 2007 - St. Lucie County Public Safety, in collaboration with the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office, St. Lucie County Fire District, Fort Pierce and Port St. Lucie Police Departments, has taken a significant step in upgrading the ability to communicate critical emergency information to its residents. St. Lucie County Emergency Notification System (SLCENS), an automated telephone message delivery system, was activated on Sept. 1 and is now operational.
St. Lucie County Public Safety, Sheriff's Office, Fire District, Fort Pierce or Port St. Lucie emergency response personnel are then able to create and send information or instructive messages to those telephones. SLCENS recalls numbers that are busy and leaves a message on phones that have a voice mail or answering machines.
SLCENS is able to reach as many telephones as the phone company can accommodate, possibly delivering as many as 30,000 messages in less than 10 minutes. All outgoing messages are in English, call recipients will be given the option to select Spanish if desired. FirstCall can deliver messages in more than 140 different languages. FirstCall owns and operates the high-speed notification network on which SCLENS operates.
FirstCall
Phone:
(800) 653-9232
Fax:
(225) 295-8273
of Notifications That Saved Lives
Heeding the call: Jackson County
debuts new emergency notification system
PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- In order to
better utilize the advances in communication technology during every
conceivable emergency, Jackson County now has a new notification system in
place, and officials are hoping that every resident will sign up to be notified.
Known as FirstCall, the system's
purchase was unanimously approved by the county's board of supervisors in
April. It was activated June 1, when every phone number in the phone book was
input. Annually, First Call costs about $15,000, officials said.
In this screen shot, the
registration page for Jackson County's emergency notification system is shown.
Known as First Call, the new system alerts residents throughout the county via
phone, e-mail, text message or computer in case of emergency.
The system, which is said to be
more efficient and less costly than the older, outdated program it replaced,
can alert residents via their home phone, cell phone, e-mail, text message or
even through a stream on their computer desktops.
"We believe this system will
be very beneficial for the county, and give us an opportunity to notify the
people that need to be notified," said Board President Mike Mangum.
Notifications can be customized to
target specific locations in the event of particular emergencies -- from an
entire ZIP code down to an individual street. Though it has only been used a
handful of times in the weeks since it was activated, it has proven quite
useful, Mangum said.
He said Emergency Management
Director Donald Langham used it Friday to notify residents in Vancleave when a
construction crew caused a small gas release.
FirstCall can also be used to
reach all of the county's 72,000 households in the event of a mass emergency,
such as a hurricane or other calamity -- but only if residents are registered.
For this reason, Mangum said it was
very important that individuals who are not listed through the phone company to
register their contact information through the county's website at www.co.jackson.ms.us/departments/public-safety/emsignup.php
If residents have cell phones only,
"you can get that notification even if you're not at home, so you know
what's going on around your house and you don't drive back into an unsafe
situation," Mangum said.
As of Friday, 215 Jackson County
residents had registered their information, according to FirstCall.
For those who may not have access
to a computer, Langham said they can call his office at 228-769-3111, and
someone will help register them.
The system has uses for emergency
personnel as well. According to the FirstCall website, the system serves as a
buffer for incoming calls to the county's emergency management office,
regulating high-call traffic so the system doesn't become overloaded.
And, be it because of a train
derailment, flash flood, fire or other emergency, first responders can call
into the system to report, which can then be relayed to proper officials and,
eventually, the public.
"The system is versatile. It
could also be used in a missing person's case or to assist law
enforcement," Langham said in a county release. "FirstCall can be
activated from an office or in the field.
"And if all else fails, I can
call a live operator anytime to send out an alert."
New emergency notification system aims to save
lives in Jackson Co
By Patrice Clark
JACKSON COUNTY, MS (WLOX) - The next
time there are floods, an explosion, or other life threatening
emergencies in Jackson County, the FirstCall Emergency System will
call and warn residents.
"From the time we put all the information into
the computer, hit the send button, everybody should have that notification in
less than five minutes," County Emergency Director Donald Langham
said.
The county was using an old, slow telephone dialing
system. The new computer system is faster and technologically savvy.
"It is designed and set up with a mapping
system. We can zoom down into a certain section of the county, and draw a
square anywhere we want to in the county, and only notify those people within
that a targeted area."
Every phone number that's in the telephone book has
already been programmed into the new system. Now, the county needs to hear from
people with private numbers, cell phone numbers, and email addresses. You
can register your number through the county's website at http://www.co.jackson.ms.us/departments/public-safety/emsignup.php
.
"The FirstCall system is web based, and it
can be accessed over a Blackberry Phone."
County Supervisor Mike Mangum said it's is a
free, voluntary service, and promised the information will be kept
private.
"We will not be selling this to a third
party," Mangum said.
Copyright 2010 WLOX. All rights reserved.
Allentown has new water emergency notification system
Residents can be alerted by phone or e-mail within minutes of a
problem.
By Margie Peterson, SPECIAL TO THE MORNING CALL
6:51 p.m. EDT, July 1, 2010
If
Allentown's water system is ever plagued with E-coli, you could wait until the
6 o'clock news or the next day's newspaper to hear about it. Or, if you're a
city resident, you could give the city your phone number and e-mail address and
get a warning three minutes after it is issued.
In the
hopes that you'll take the latter option, Mayor Ed Pawlowski and city officials held a news conference Thursday announcing Allentown's new
emergency notification system, which can contact residents with automated
calls, e-mails or text messages to inform them of city emergencies.
"This
is a lot more expeditious as far as getting the message out and a lot more thorough,"
Pawlowski said.
First
the city needs residents' contact information. "The system is only as good
as the data that's in there," Pawlowski said.
City
residents can sign up for the warning bulletins by going to Allentown's website
athttp://www.allentownpa.gov to
provide information about how they would like to be contacted. Those without
Internet access can call
toll
free at 866-484-3264 to put their phone numbers on the list.
The city
already has phone numbers for some of its water customers based on billing
information. But it's especially important for renters to sign up because the
phone numbers currently in the system are likely to be for landlords or whoever
is paying the water bill, Pawlowski said. The emergency bulletins can be issued
in English and Spanish.
Allentown
hasn't had a boil water advisory in more than 30 years, according to city
officials, but the notification system can be used for other types of
emergencies, such as gas leaks, tornados, water main breaks and snow
emergencies. The notification system is mandated by the state Department of
Environmental Protection for water systems with more than a thousand customers,
said Bob Kerchusky, operations manager for the city water resources department.
Allentown
hired low bidder FirstCall of Baton Rouge,
La., to provide the system for two years at the cost of $24,064. Jeff Ross of
First Call and city officials said phone numbers and other information
residents provide will be used only for emergency notifications and will be
kept secure. Ross said even FirstCall's operators don't have access to
individual phone numbers.
"One
thing you will not receive is telemarketing calls," Ross said.
The
system allows the city to customize calls so that if, for example, there is a
water main break that will leave one section of Allentown without water, the
bulletins can be limited to the affected neighborhood.
Last
week there was a water main break on Furnace Street near Front Street that left
about 20 customers temporarily without water. If the notification system had
been in place, the city could have informed those customers almost instantly,
officials said.
The city
has incentives to issue the bulletins only in true emergencies, according to
Chris Cope, Allentown's Industrial Waste manager. If the city goes over the
20,000 minutes a year it gets as part of the contract, it has to pay extra for
calls (though it can roll over unused minutes). Also, Cope said, the city wants
residents to take the warnings seriously so it will use them judiciously.
Margie Peterson
is a freelance writer.
NIMSAT gets major gift
TINA MARIE
MACIAS • TMACIAS@THEADVERTISER.COM • JUNE 24, 2010
FirstCall,
Emergency Notification System has donated $118,000 worth of services and
software this year to a UL institute, according to a news release.
UL's National Incident Management Systems and
Advanced Technologies Institute funneled the gift to the new Louisiana Emergency Operations Center.
Ongoing contributions of $118,000 a year will
total more than $1 million in eight years.
"This is a tremendously generous contribution
and one that is at the core of what we do. In these tough budget times for
higher education in Louisiana, this gift is particularly encouraging and
welcomed," NIMSAT Institute Director Ramesha Kolluru said in the release.
The center will operate under the overarching
leadership of the Louisiana Department of
Economic Development and the Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security
and Emergency Preparedness.
The NIMSAT Institute serves as the lead for
the center, with support from Louisiana State University Stephenson Disaster
Management Institute.
The center aims to support disaster
management in Louisiana by developing an accurate understanding of economic
impacts to critical infrastructures and major economic drivers, as well as
coordinating businesses and volunteer organizations with the public sector.
Through the center, the state will work to
improve disaster preparedness and response; reduce reliance on Federal
Emergency Management Agency and other federal assistance; maximize business,
industry and economic stabilization; and return the business environment to normal operations quickly.
The donation was accepted through the UL
Foundation.
"This
is a very timely, targeted and significant gift to the university and one that
is fundamental to the success of our new Business Emergency Operations
Center," UL President Joe Savoie said.
City of San Antonio News Release ... San Antonio Selects FirstCall 2/12/2009
FirstCall has been selected as the provider of Emergency Notification Services for San Antonio, TX.
Date: 02/12/2009 Time: 10:45:05 AM Vote Type: Motion to Approve Description: An Ordinance authorizing a contract with First Call Network, Inc. to provide the Emergency Operations Center, a Division of the Fire Department, with an Emergency and Non-Emergency Notification Alert System for an initial cost up to $200,000.00 annually. [Sharon De La Garza, Assistant City Manager; Janie Cantu, Director, Purchasing & General Services] Result: Passed
SUMMARY: This ordinance authorizes a contract with First Call Network, Inc., to provide the Emergency Operations Center, a Division of the Fire Department, with the purchase of an Emergency and Non-Emergency Notification Alert System for an initial cost up to $200,000.00 annually.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: Submitted for City Council consideration and action is the offer submitted by First Call Network, Inc. A Request for Competitive Sealed Proposal (RFCSP) was issued and fourteen (14) responses were received. The following four (4) Respondents did not meet the technical requirements as outlined in the RFCSP: Cistera Networks, Siemens Building Technologies, American Messaging Services and Hormann America. The remaining ten (10) proposals were reviewed by an Evaluation Committee comprised of members from the following departments: Aviation, Public Works, Fire, Police, Information Technology Services, Health and Community Initiatives. The committee recommends that the contract be awarded to First Call Network, Inc. whose proposal provided the best overall solution to the City's requirements contained in the RFCSP.
Key features of the proposal include: (1) the ability to dynamically determine call capacity of the area to be notified; (2) the ability to provide instant feedback during the user registration process in regards to address confirmation (GIS popup for validating address); (3) the only proposed solution which provides a live operator 24/7 for assistance with registration, notifications or other Emergency and Non-Emergency Notification System related issues; (4) a cost effective solution which provides 200,000 minutes per year for calls and messaging with rollover capability of unused minutes.
The City desires to implement a fully integrated communication interoperability, event notification and alerting system capable of notifying a large portion of the region’s population in a short period of time for possible emergency or non-emergency conditions requiring large-scale coordination.
This system will meet the following communication requirements for the City of San Antonio’s Office of Emergency Management and other City agencies.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the approval of this purchase with First Call Networks, Inc., to provide the Emergency Operations Center, a Division of the Fire Department, an Emergency and Non-Emergency Notification Alert System.
DEPARTMENT HEAD AUTHORIZATIONS: Janie B. Cantu Director Purchasing and General Services
APPROVED FOR COUNCIL CONSIDERATION: Sharon De La Garza Assistant City Manager
Hardest Hit Gulf Coast Areas Continue to Depend on FirstCall to Reach Citizens Who Are Dispersed Due to Hurricane Ike
HOUSTON, TX - Sept 24, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- 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.
Wildfires Still Burning In North Carolina Counties
CHOWAN CO, NC - May, 2008 -- Officials are fighting a 250-acre fire with potential for threatening structures, and evacuations may be needed. Officials activated FirstCall with an advisory message. All residents were asked to contact the fire department immediately upon spotting any flame or evidence of potential fire. Fire officials stated that their goal is to be proactive and put out any potential hot spots before it erupts into a major problem.
Thick smoke in Camden County has prompted officials to delay the start of the school day by two hours Monday. Camden County Emergency Management Coordinator Christy Saunders spoke live to WITN News at Sunrise, and said it's impossible to tell how contained the fire in Camden County is near the Virginia border. She estimated the fire to be as large as 500 acres.
Crews across the East battled wildfires Sunday. A spokesman says crews contained more than 100 brush fires pushed by high winds across North Carolina and utilities say power knocked out by gusts was being restored.
North Carolina forestry spokesman Brian Haines said Monday that crews worked through the night to control fires. Haines said some fires were caused when power lines were blown down and others by careless trash burning.
In Washington County crews from the N.C. Division of Forest Resources and the U.S. Fish Wildlife Service are fighting a 50-acre fire.
In Beaufort County, fires flared on River Road, Slatestone Road and Waters Road. Officials said the fires in Beaufort County were contained by mid-afternoon. Although they have been called back to these scenes to put out hot spots. There has also been a house fire in the Smallwood area, unrelated to the wildfires, that has kept crews busy. We're told four more smaller brushfires broke out Sunday evening in which they responded to and controlled.
Crews in Edgecombe County were called to the scene of a fire near Conetoe, while crews in Martin County battled one on Free Union Road in Jamesville. Crews in Craven battled at least seven fires Sunday.
The American Red Cross opened a shelter last night at Hollister Elementary School for families that were evacuated from their homes in Halifax County near Medoc Mountain. About a half dozen people used the shelter before the fire was contained and residents were able to return to their homes.
Pitt County officials sent crews to help with the Edgecombe County fire, while battling two blazes of their own. As of late Sunday afternoon, the fires in Pactolus and Black Jack were contained.
Winds were around 20 miles per hour in Beaufort County Sunday afternoon, with gusts to 34 miles per hour. A Red Flag Warning and High Wind alerts were in effect but have now expired.
The mandatory evacuation for the Carolina Village neighborhood in Moyock in Currituck County has been canceled, and residents have gone back to their homes.
Crews in Tyrrell County returned to a large fire off Highway 64. A 300-acre blaze with the potential to threaten structures kept crews busy Sunday. That fire near Alligator is still burning this morning. FirstCall is on stand-by should evacuation calls are be needed.
In Dare County crews are battling a ground fire at the Bomb Range.
Houston’s High-Speed System Communicates Security Threats
HOUSTON, TX - Jan, 2003 -- It was 10 p.m. on a Friday night, the start of a long July Fourth weekend, when the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Houston Division office received the intelligence threat from a foreign embassy: Terrorists planned to attack oil refineries in Pasadena, California, within the next week to 10 days. FBI special agents quickly determined there were no oil refineries in Pasadena, California, but could the terrorists have meant Pasadena, Texas? The Houston Ship Channel is home to hundreds of oil refineries, petrochemical plants and distribution terminals. But how quickly on a holiday weekend evening could the FBI warn plant managers and security directors at hundreds of potential targets? The answer: 10 minutes!
Houston’s FBI office is just one of six local law enforcement agencies that participate in the EHCMA Security Notification System (ESNS). Developed by the East Harris County Manufacturers Association’s Security Committee in October 2001, ESNS is a high-tech system to distribute both advisories (security guidance, non-specific threats and intelligence) and alerts (actual attacks or threats against specific targets or timeframes). The information is distributed to EHCMA’s 125 member facilities and participating agencies such as the Port of Houston Police, Harris County Sheriff’s Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, FBI and U.S. Coast Guard.
ESNS uses two vendor-provided services: a secure, high-speed e-mail distribution service provided by CorporateNEWS and an outcall telephone/pager notification service provided by FirstCall Interactive Network.
CorporateNEWS is a secure Internet service that can send text messages to EHCMA members’ work and home e-mail addresses. Plus, full-text documents – including any suspect or vehicle photos – can be posted to a password-protected website that EHCMA members can view or download.
FirstCall uses 744 digital T-1 lines to send pre-recorded voice messages to members’ work phones, cell phones and home phones, plus a special code to members’ numeric and alphanumeric pagers.
EHCMA’s top priority was setting up a reliable communications system that could deliver sensitive information to all of our members in under 10 minutes, because intelligence doesn’t do anyone any good if the right people don’t get it in time. Each plant designates a primary and secondary contact person to receive ESNS messages, and EHCMA maintains the database. The system is tested on the first Monday of each month; so EHCMA can identify any bad email addresses and unanswered phone numbers. Due to ESNS’ success, members of the EHCMA Security Committee have been called to testify before several state and federal committee hearings to describe how the system works.
During the past year, EHCMA has used ESNS to successfully transmit 18 alerts or advisories to its members and participating agencies, including guidance on how to respond to employees, media and the public about the FBI threat issued on the July Fourth weekend. Fortunately, no attacks occurred in Pasadena, California, or Pasadena, Texas, but ESNS remains ready for the next threat.
Local citizens appreciate ESNS the most. At local community advisory panel meetings, EHCMA members are approached by citizens, saying how they feel better about the Houston petrochemical industry knowing that ESNS is in place.
Police: Gunman kills girlfriend, himself
Woman shot as she runs away...
TRENTON, MI - May, 2006 -- A 32-year-old man suspected in a fatal shooting yesterday morning was found dead hours later in his victim's house in the 3200 block of Charles. Deputy Police Chief Robert Smith said it appears that Terrence Arnold shot his 29-year-old girlfriend and then committed suicide. His body was found at 3:41 p.m. Police had not released the woman's name as of press time yesterday. Residents near the house were evacuated after police received a disturbance call shortly after 6:30 a.m. Smith said witnesses in the Teifer subdivision near Fort Street and West Road said they saw Arnold shoot the woman outside a house there. The woman died of an apparent gunshot wound to the back of her head. Smith said it appears that she was fleeing the house on foot and was shot across the street from her residence. Arnold then fled.
Evacuated residents were transported to the Westfield Activities Center. At the direction of Police Chief Rick Newsome, others in nearby neighborhoods were notified by phone not to leave their homes. The Trenton Police Department, Downriver Mutual Aid Special Weapons and Tactics, Monroe County Special Weapons and Tactics and Michigan State Police worked to reroute traffic and surrounded the subdivision.
The SWAT teams threw tear gas into the home at about 2:30 p.m. and entered the dwelling at 3:41 p.m. Smith said they found Arnold dead, just inside the front door, from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the upper body. "It appears to be from a domestic dispute," Smith said. Until police entered the house, they were unsure of Arnold's whereabouts.
Trenton police Lt. Greg Plagens, SWAT commander, went up in a TV station's helicopter to check the surrounding area, while other officers staked out the house. "We had to treat it like he was at the residence," Smith said. "The subject has already proven to us that he was a killer. Our job is to protect not only our police officers and our SWAT team, but our citizens." Smith said police took their time and didn't rush things, in order to keep everyone from harm's way.
Paul Haley, Trenton's civil defense officer, said the city decided to use its FirstCall emergency telephone notification system to alert residents in the vicinity. Residents at 709 houses received a 30-second recorded message warning that there was a health and safety problem. Haley said residents were advised to stay indoors until further notice and to contact the police before leaving to arrange a safe passage. The calls took about 11 minutes to complete. Haley said a second call would be made yesterday to let residents know they were out of danger.
Alert System Passes Real-Life Test
LAFAYETTE, LA - November, 2008 -- Right after a bank near campus was robbed this summer, thousands of phones started spreading the news. The University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s web site and its hotline announced the crime, too. “We needed to alert the campus community about a possible threat as a result of this armed robbery. We wanted to ensure the safety of all students, faculty and staff on campus,” said UL Lafayette Police Chief Ray Lucas. It was the first time the university activated FirstCall, its new emergency notification system, to issue an alert. Previously, it had only been activated for tests. Warnings about the robbery were sent via text messaging and by calls to all campus phone lines and all cell phones registered with FirstCall. UL Lafayette’s hotline gave callers a recorded message.
“The system performed as it was designed to perform,” Lucas said. A second message was distributed after a suspect was arrested later that day. UL Lafayette President Dr. Joseph Savoie said he was pleased with the system’s performance. “The safety of our students, faculty and staff remains a top priority for this university,” he said.
Savoie encourages all UL Lafayette students and employees to sign up – at no cost – for FirstCall by providing their contact information. They can give additional e-mail addresses and phone numbers for FirstCall to automatically contact in case of an emergency. For instance, a student may furnish his parents’ home phone number as an additional contact number. FirstCall is only activated for emergencies and tests of the notification system. It does not distribute any advertising.
UL Lafayette students and employees can register their contact information online at http://ens.louisiana.edu
The FirstCall service is part of an initiative by the Louisiana Board of Regents and supported by the University of Louisiana System. Universities across the nation began implementing emergency notification systems after a disturbed student shot and killed 32 students on the campus of Virginia Tech before killing himself last year. A review panel criticized Virginia Tech administrators for failing to take steps that might have reduced the number of casualties, such as informing students more quickly about the shootings.
They’ve got your number
BATON ROUGE, LA - July 17, 2007 -- When Howard Dennis and his six employees began FirstCall in 1997, they had no idea they would soon become a nationally recognized business.
Today, the Baton Rouge-based emergency notification company has clients in 30 states from coast to coast, 25 employees, revenue of $3.2 million and more than 400 customers, including chemical companies in the Fortune 500.
“From Baton Rouge, we serve a national public and it draws attention to Baton Rouge businesses,” says Dennis, president of FirstCall. “We serve hundreds of customers right here.”
Dennis and his staff are always available to their clients, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. With 1,728 available phone lines, FirstCall is equipped with multiple emergency backup systems, including a natural gas generator, fiber-optic network for outbound message delivery and redundant sites in Philadelphia and Las Vegas.
When Dennis, who already owned Malcolm Travel and Cruise among his several businesses, was urged by his wife to start FirstCall, he couldn’t help but agree.
“Maybe my wife thought I was bored,” he says. “But there was a need for this market. There was only one company doing this at the time, and they weren’t doing too well.”
Dennis partnered with C.J. “Red” Delatte, who was Baton Rouge’s division manager for public safety at the time. Delatte, who had previously served as the director of emergency operations and 911 for St. James Parish, is the only certified emergency manager to work for an emergency communications network.
They hired Matthew Teague, who at the time was an LSU student, as an operator. He was promoted to vice president of technical operations three years later after being accredited in mapping systems. And Jeff Ross, who was a student at Southeastern Louisiana University, also was originally hired as an operator and was promoted to account executive and customer support database coordinator after graduation.
“Here we are, almost 10 years later,” Delatte says.
FirstCall has dealt with many emergency situations since its inception, including a massive East Coast blackout in 2003—when it was one of the only emergency notification companies in the country—and hurricanes Katrina and Rita in 2005—when employees were in the office for days working off one generator.
“We basically bought out a grocery store and set up bunkers,” Dennis says. “We really came together for Katrina, and my staff did a tremendous job.”
FirstCall’s emergency notification system deals with hurricane situations like Katrina and Rita by informing residents of evacuations and even providing information on available transportation. It also offers a telephone number for residents to call for daily updates on homes and schools. The company also assists chemical plants in keeping nearby neighborhoods informed of any potential hazards, and it maintains inbound call lines for many industrial areas, serving millions of people.
FirstCall also offers several unique features, including a citizen registration system that allows residents to add as many phone numbers to their contact information as they desire. Through multi-lingual translation, the company can deliver messages in more than 140 languages and even contact the hearing impaired through TTY/TDD accessibility.
“They are always open to adopting new features,” says Robbie Swofford, a senior research analyst with the Spartanburg (S.C.) Office of Emergency Management. “The TTD is very unique and you can actually pick what Caller ID number you want, so when they call South Carolina it’s not a Louisiana number and people are more likely to answer. They give you the ability to see a report of how quickly calls went out, [and] they have an unlimited number of fixed lists."
Swofford’s office became a FirstCall client two years ago. He says his office went through a competitive process of choosing an emergency notification company, looking first at 10 vendors, then six, then two.
“We’ve been very pleased,” Swofford says.
FirstCall also offers concentric ring buffering, in which citizens closest to the emergency are notified first. Clients can select whom to notify by radius, address, intersection, latitude and longitude or even by a freehand drawing tool. Upon completing all notifications, FirstCall sends a report to its client on who answered, who didn’t, who responded (if applicable), total numbers dialed and the start and stop times.
In the wake of the April 16 Virginia Tech tragedy, in which a gunman killed 32 people before committing suicide, Dennis says FirstCall is working with more than 10 universities regarding emergency notification.
“We’re working with them to figure out what services will be best for them,” he says. “Out of all these unfortunate situations, opportunity comes for us to do our job, and we’re proud to provide a good service for our customers and that people trust FirstCall.”
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FirstCall Saves Seconds ... Seconds Save Lives
FirstCall Saves Seconds … Seconds Save Lives.
FirstCallis dedicated to focusing solely on one thing … Emergency Notification.
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Applications
Incidents - Instantly launch alerts from your Emergency Command Center (EOC), Safety Director's or Emergency Management Director's office, police or fire command center, or remotely. ____
Evacuation and Shelter in Place - Instantly set activations in motion to quickly inform citizens about evacuation routes and Shelter in Place instructions. (Learn more about FirstCall in Action during the harshest conditions). ____
Police and Fire - Instantly launch alerts to notify residents and businesses in your community of a crime, Amber Alert, Hazmat situation, or any disaster in their area. ____
Emergency Management - Instantly launch alerts so that your Emergency Management first responders and staff can be rolling for fires, floods, search and rescue operations, and other situations.
Experience We are the only emergency notification company who has a founder with 20 years of public service experience, primarily in safety.
You will work directly with a professional project team whose average length of years of experience with FirstCall is over 8 years. Most competitors have not been in business providing alerts for that length of time!
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Cord Communications represents a wide variety of products for Mass Notification Systems to accommodate almost every situation . Top quality in products and service is the approach we take to our business and that is reflected in the systems we design and all the work that we do. 
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Pitt County officials sent crews to help with the Edgecombe County fire, while battling two blazes of their own. As of late Sunday afternoon, the fires in Pactolus and Black Jack were contained.
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