Recently, the Hillsdale Police Deparment has implemented the SwiftReach Reverse 9-1-1 Community Notification System designed by SwiftReach Networks. This system enables the Hillsdale Police Department to quickly notify residents of an emergency situation by activating computer software that dials all listed telephone numbers in the Boro, and plays a pre-recorded message when the residents answer their phones. This system was originally designed for flood notification and terrorism-related alerts, as the recording can be customized to include instructions, special messages, alerts, or other information necessary during an emergency or crisis.

The system was recently used when the Boro of Hillsdale was visited by several black bears who wandered down from the Ramapo/Saddle River Valley in June 2003.  Reverse 9-1-1 was also activated several times in 2004 during severe storms, to warn and update residents.  When activated, the Community Notification System can contact over seventy percent of the town in under twenty minutes.

The Community Notification System works by contacting all listed numbers in the telephone directory.  Un-published and un-listed telephone numbers are not available in the SwiftReach Database.  As a result, if you have an unlisted telephone number and would like to add your telephone number to the Community Notification System please fill out our on-line form CLICK HERE!.

As always, the 9-1-1 System in Hillsdale, and throughout Bergen County, remains to be the most reliable way to request help during an emergency.  Read about 9-1-1 Emergency in Hillsdale to learn how the 9-1-1 System works, and what to say to an operator when dialing 9-1-1.