Lehigh County Emergency Services is providing "Reverse 911", a community notification system intended to alert residents and businesses about emergencies that may affect their safety.

Residents and businesses that 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 are encouraged to sign-up for notification.

Lehigh County Emergency Services may contact residents and businesses via "Reverse 911" to keep them informed about emergencies or other situations that may 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.

County Emergency Management personnel sent out a test message March 13, and advised those who received the message to be aware it was only a test.

"We have two goals in mind in announcing this service," said County Executive Bill Hansell. "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 be appear on caller IDs as "911Alert" and/or the phone number 610-782-4600.

Residents or businesses with landline telephone service provided by VoIP carriers such as Vonage, Magic Jack and other companies need to register their home telephone number 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 North Eastern Pennsylvania Emergency Response Group," said Lehigh County Director of General Services, Glenn Solt. "There was no cost to the county for the purchase of the system."

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