Emergency notification systems at work at the American Red Cross - Network World

Skip Links

DNSstuff.com
Get information about your IP
IP Information
50+ On-demand DNS and network tools

Software

Videos

rssRss Feed
Get instant email notification when white papers, webcasts, executive guides are added to our library.  Stay informed and up-to-date with the latest on IT Technologies with Network World's Resource Alerts.
Audio

Microsoft sniffing around Facebook? Google's Paris street photos may spark lawsuits. Listen now!

Network World 360

Tech vendors are like high school. Listen now!

Network World's Twisted Pair

Additional Resources

RSS

FEATURED REPORTS

Executive Guide: Storage Heats Up HP

Get the latest on storage technologies that allow IT professionals to better cope with new IT demands. Learn how storage technologies can help you successfully tackle e-Discover, regulatory compliance, green data center initiatives and the data explosion. Get all the details now.

RSS

FEATURED WEBCASTS

Reduce the Complexity and Cost of Windows Server Consolidation in Six Modules Novell

Watch this webcast to learn in six modules how to more cost effectively consolidate your Windows servers with virtualization. This unique program allows you to pick and choose which of the six modules you would like to view or watch the entire webcast at once. Topics covered: Performance, Use Cases, Enterprise-level Support, Managing Windows Workloads, Setup and Configuration and The Future. Find out how you can simplify server consolidation within your organization today. Register below to learn more and be entered to win an Archos 605 Portable Media Player.

IT Buyer's Guides

View All Buyer's Guides

Free Newsletters

Sign up and receive the latest news, reviews and trends on your favorite technology topics

Save The Date!
What They Are Saying

You can find related project managemen articles in - Anonymous

Join the Discussion

Partner Content
CA logo

CA Network & Voice Resource Center

Comprehensive Network & Voice Management Visit CA Network & Voice Management Resource Center and get insights into industry best practices, information that helps you to address your challenges.

CA Network & Voice Management Resource Center

whitepaper

Managing Voice Over IP for Successful Convergence

Voice over IP (VoIP) has much to offer in cost savings but some customers have concerns about VoIP call quality compared to the quality of traditional voice services. This white paper will help you learn how to take the right steps so that voice quality is assured.

Managing VoIP for Successful Convergence

whitepaper

The Changing Face of Network Management

Managing your network is serious business. This paper discusses the benefits of integrating configuration change-awareness into your network fault management solution

Download Whitepaper

Emergency notification systems at work at the American Red Cross

* The Red Cross mobilizes volunteers using its emergency notification system
Unified Communications Alert By Michael Osterman , Network World , 09/21/2006
Michael Osterman
Sign up for this newsletter now!
  • Social Web 
  • Email 
  • Feedback 
  • Close

MessageOne recently published a press release discussing the impact that its AlertFind emergency notification service has had on the American Red Cross efforts in Florida. The system is used primarily to alert the Red Cross' 1,500 on-call volunteers so that they can be more effectively mobilized in the event of a natural disaster or other problem.

The Red Cross is using AlertFind in central Florida not only to dispatch volunteers to emergency situations as quickly as possible, but also to provide information on who has already responded to an emergency, who is en route, who is not available and to identify the particular expertise of volunteers, and so forth. AlertFind replaced a system of having volunteers make telephone calls to other volunteers, saving the Red Cross a significant amount of time when dispatching volunteers during emergency situations.

Picking up on my last column, there are a variety of business applications in which emergency notification systems can be put to good use, short of a hurricane or other major calamity. Notifying employees in your department about changes in a meeting time, notifying employees to replace workers who have called in sick or notifying suppliers about a potential production problem are all examples of the utility of emergency notification systems in less-than-life threatening situations.

In addition to MessageOne's AlertFind, there are other systems available that provide emergency notification, such as Amcom, National Notification Network, MIR3, Enera and Send Word Now, among others. Although the capabilities offered by these companies differ, they all provide the ability to dramatically reduce the time and effort required to notify large numbers of people in a short amount of time.

Comments (1)
Login
Forgot your account info?

RE: Emergency notification systems at work at the American Red CrossBy rafael dalva on August 2, 2007, 1:14 pmlooking for a system in portuguese...

Reply | Read entire comment

View all comments

Add comment
Anonymous comments subject to moderator approval. Register here for member benefits.
Have a NetworkWorld account? Log in here. Register now for a free account.
First Name
Last Name
E-mail
Zip Code