Frequently Asked Questions

The First Call Network telephone emergency notification system is another tool that the county can use to alert people of an emergency situation. First Call Network makes telephone calls to those affected by the emergency, alerting them to the emergency situation and providing them with appropriate response instructions. The calls are made very quickly (212 per minute). First Call is an emergency notification service, so they have the phone lines and computer equipment. The system is available 24 hours a day, throughout the whole year.

The First Call system can be used for a number of different situations. Here is a list of some of the potential uses:

• Chemical release at a facility
• Evacuations
• Fires or explosions
• Flash flood warnings for certain areas
• Notify a community of a lost child
• Shelter-in-place notifications
• Transportation related chemical release
• Warn an area of an escaped prisoner
• Water or gas main breaks

The messages can be recorded when the call is made to First Call or the message can be prerecorded and referred to when calling First Call for activation. The message will identify what the emergency is and provide you with the appropriate information to protect you. For example the message may request that you shelter-in-place if there is a chemical release. The message will refer you to the television or radio for further information.

The system can only be activated by authorized persons. Central Dispatch has the authority to activate the system. Central Dispatch would act on the commands given by the fire department or the police department.

The message is given twice to make sure the recipient gets the message clearly.

One of the biggest advantages of the First Call system over other systems is its ability to call outward from all directions from a single location. This will assure those most endangered from the incident are called first.

First Call's interactive system can ask for a response from the message recipient. After listening to the delivered message with this type of ending "Did you understand the message or Do you need assistance complying with this emergency notification," the message recipient can indicate their ability to respond by pressing the appropriate digital response. A detailed report will be faxed or emailed to Central Dispatch, which includes all interactive responses, addresses, and phone number of the citizenry requesting assistance.

Use this online form to make sure that your unlisted phone number is included in the First Call Network. This will assure that you will be notified by telephone in the event of an incident in your neighborhood. Submitting this form will ensure that you will be notified by telephone in the event of an incident in your neighborhood.

This information will be submitted to Muskegon County Emergency Management. They will make sure that your unlisted number is included in the database. Muskegon County Emergency Management and First Call will use your information only for this purpose and will maintain the security of your information.

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The County has contracted directly with First Call Network. The Muskegon Chemical Council has provided the funds to the county to purchase a five-year contract with First Call.

First Call purchases phone numbers and addresses from the phone company or other sources.  At this time unlisted numbers would not be in the database.  If you provide your unlisted number to Muskegon County Emergency Services, they will make sure that your number is in the First Call system.

For further information on the First Call telephone emergency notification system, please contact Muskegon County Emergency Management.

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