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Long Beach Township Looks To Remedy Reverse 911 Shortfall

LONG BEACH TOWNSHIP, NJ (WCBS 880) - During one of the winter storms this past season, Long Beach Township sent out a reverse 911 advisory on conditions, but was short some 2,500 homes.

WCBS 880's Levon Putney In New Jersey

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Police Chief Michael Bradley says many of those left out did not have landlines or had cable internet-based phone services.

He said these homes may have been omitted because third-party providers rarely forward information to Verizon.

Bradley said this can affect the efficiency of 911 services especially if the caller can't talk or the line is disconnected in an emergency.

Many towns have been employing or considering reverse 911 systems in New York and New Jersey.

In February, the Wayne Police Department in New Jersey sent out an alert to warn residents of a possibly rabid fox terrorizing the neighborhood

Earlier this month, Nyack, N.Y. officials were debating getting its own reverse 911 alert system after a bear was reported wandering the streets.

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