Lehigh County Emergency Services is providing "Reverse 911," a community notification system, which is intended to alert residents and businesses about emergencies that may impact their safety. Residents and businesses who already have landline telephone connections through such providers as Verizon, Frontier and Ironton, are automatically included in this free notification system. Those with other services and devices as mentioned below are encouraged to sign-up for notification.

In the event of an emergency, Lehigh County Emergency Services may contact residents and businesses via the "Reverse 911" system to keep them informed about emergencies or other situations that may impact their safety or warrant community notification. The system will dial each telephone number registered within the affected area and will provide a recorded message with any pertinent information.

"We have two goals in mind in announcing this service," County Executive Bill Hansell said. "First, we urge everyone who lives or works in Lehigh County to sign up for these free notifications, and secondly, don't hang up. We need users of the service to recognize a reverse 911 alert from Lehigh County Emergency Services and stay on the line to hear the message."

Reverse 911 calls will appear on caller IDs as "911Alert" and/or the phone number 610-782-4600. Residents or businesses who have landline telephone service provided by VoIP carriers such as Vonage, Magic Jack and other companies need to register their home telephone number in order to receive alerts from this system.

Cell phones and other wireless numbers also need to be registered by the phone's owner. Notifications sent to cell phones will be based upon the address entered when registering.

"The Reverse 911 system was provided to Lehigh County through the Northeastern Pennsylvania Emergency Response Group," Lehigh County Director of General Services Glenn Solt said. "There was no cost to the county for the purchase of the system."

For more detailed information and to sign up, visit www.lehighcounty. org and click on the "Reverse 911" link.