With 2 million people expected to attend the historic swearing in of President-elect Barack Obama, 58 law enforcement agencies in the District of Columbia (DC) and surrounding jurisdictions will rely on Alert DC, an interoperable emergency text messaging system provided by Cooper Notification, to coordinate the largest security and safety operation for a presidential inauguration in the nation’s history. Cooper Notification is a platform of Cooper Industries, Ltd.
Powered by Cooper Notification’s patented Roam Secure Alert Network™ (RSAN™), the DC Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency (HSEMA) and their counterparts in surrounding counties and cities will be able to efficiently respond to threats by sending text messages to coordinate security and emergency efforts among the different law enforcement agencies, including the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Capitol Police, and the U.S. Military or targeted groups such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation. Law enforcement personnel can reply to alerts through RSAN’s two-way communications system.
Alert DC was launched in 2002 to quickly mobilize first responders and key personnel. “What better way to communicate to all of the different agencies during the largest security operation than with an interoperable system that has been reliable and effective for DC HSEMA and the MPD for more than five years,” said Ratna Reddi, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development, Cooper Notification.To create a safer and more secure environment for the 56th Presidential Inauguration, Alert DC will also allow officials to communicate emergency information to the public via text messages during the four-day ceremony at the nation’s capitol, where more than 70 inaugural events will take place from Jan. 18 – 21.
“If you plan on joining the hundreds of thousands of people attending the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama or will just be visiting DC during this time frame, we encourage you to sign up for Alert DC or Arlington Alert,” said Reddi. “Alert DC and Arlington Alert will help you prepare and respond to emergencies. Alerts aren’t limited to violence and terrorism. You can also receive information on inclement weather, road closures and transportation issues.”
Residents and visitors in the Washington DC area can sign up for Alert DC by clicking here, or can be automatically enrolled by texting DC to 411911 from a text-enabled device.
Arlington, Va., residents and visitors can sign up for Arlington Alert here or by texting 1801 to 411911. Those wishing to receive alerts only during the Inauguration period can do so by checking “Inaugural Alerts” on the registration page.
Cooper Notification has deployed more than 230 RSAN systems across the United States, including major metropolitan areas in Orlando, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Houston, Phoenix, Los Angeles and San Francisco as well as state agencies, colleges, airports, and hospitals. Added Reddi, “The 2009 inaugural activities represent another instance where the superior technology and innovation of RSAN will be used to streamline communication and enable safety when it matters most.”
For additional information, click here.
Cooper Notification January 2009 press release.
