The Hollister Police Department, in partnership with Santa Cruz Regional 9-1-1, has implemented an emergency notification service using CityWatch.
CityWatch provides a geography-based system that is used to call community members to notify them of a significant event. The system is most commonly used for evacuation notices, shelter in place notices, to be on the lookout for missing juveniles or at-risk adults, and other emergency situations.
Using an AT&T database residents with a landline are automatically enrolled in the service. Those using cell phones or voice over internet protocol phones can register to be in the database by visiting www.scr911.org.
Notification requests are made by law enforcement management staff who direct SCR911 dispatchers to enact the system. Both the Hollister Police Department and San Benito Sheriff’s Office are authorized to make notification requests. The system uses off-site phone banks to make multiple calls at once so all residents are notified in a matter of minutes.
Santa Cruz County has been using the system for several years.
For more information, visit CityWatch online.
