Amador County is continually updating its REVERSE 911 system, which has the ability to rapidly send telephone notifications to all residents and businesses in geographically specified area in the event of an emergency. It will automatically call listed and unlisted telephone numbers within the affected area and deliver a recorded message. If phone lines are busy, the system will attempt to redial those telephone numbers to make contact. Amador County is currently set to try the number twice at 5 minute intervals. If an answering machine picks up the call, the emergency message will be left on the machine. Typically, community leaders define the types of notifications that will be made. In Amador, the Office of Emergency Services, or OES, will work with the Sherriff’s department and Water Agency to inform residents of such things as contaminated water, gas leaks and criminal activity directly affecting citizens.

The system was used recently to assist citizens in finding an elderly gentleman who walked away from his home. In the event of an emergency, OES works with the other agencies to determine the type and length of the recorded message. Amador has the Mass Call™ Option that provides access to thousands of phone lines on an as-needed basis. The OES periodically tests the system by making a Test Call to a limited selection of listed phone numbers. The system will report back on how many calls were answered in person and how many were picked up on answering machines.