Vice Mayor Jim Tovias said he spoke with several residents who were notified of the mountain lions who were “very impressed with the communications.”McKinnon noted an advantage of registering cell phones for REVERSE 911® is people are notified even if away from home.“I’m one of those people who got those calls,” which Councilman Fred Robinson said were “clear, concise and to the point.... It was well received, and I’m grateful for the information.” MacKinnon noted the city’s Ready Santa Paula emergency radio station 1610 AM also was offering regular updates on areas where the mountain lions appeared, as well as cautionary tips.The mountain lions - two cubs weighing approximately 30 pounds each, a juvenile, an adult female, and possibly one more - were spotted in the area of Dana and View drives over the weekend. One of the cubs were discovered in the area again Tuesday morning and was shot and killed by a SPPD officer when the mountain lion was judged to be an imminent threat.
REVERSE 911® gets workout with mountain lion sightings
February 20, 2009
Santa Paula City Council
The REVERSE 911® system has been getting a workout, the Chief of Police told the City Council at the February 17 meeting.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe REVERSE 911® system has been getting a workout, the Chief of Police told the City Council at the February 17 meeting. Chief Steve MacKinnon noted that with the repeated sightings of mountain lions that began last weekend, the REVERSE 911® system had been warning residents of the potential danger.REVERSE 911® is “essentially a very simple process,” where a specific geographic area can be targeted for a mass notification. In the case of the mountain lions, MacKinnon told the Council, REVERSE 911® explained the situation and offered safeguards. “It’s a really great tool that we can use not only for these kinds of things, but disasters” such as wildfire or flood, and it can be programmed to contact either limited or wide areas.Those with cell phones or other alternates to a landline phone - which is automatically included in the system - must register for REVERSE 911® notification. MacKinnon said residents can log on to the city website at www.ci.santa-paula.ca.us and visit the SPPD page. Clicking on the REVERSE 911® logo will take visitors to the website where they can register their cell and other alternate phones.Those who wish to register can also click on the “Disaster Information” link on the County of Ventura homepage (www.countyofventura.org) and select the REVERSE 911® icon. MacKinnon said those without Internet access can call the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services at 648-9283 to register.
