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However, the network was used by the police on the morning of December 31st following a water main break on Stow Street. Information was disseminated to all neighborhood contacts via email and the ones most directly affected were phoned by police. As a test of the system, it proved to be effective and efficient. Police Chief Len Wetherbee points out that "effective" and "efficient" also means "money-saving." "Because of the presence of the neighborhood contacts all over town, I felt we would have been able to mobilize quickly in the event of a Y2Kdisruption," said Wetherbee. "Coupled with the "no-problem" reports from all over the world preceding our own timezone's rollover, I felt confident enough to not put in place extra personnel. CNN saved the town several thousand dollars that night." Calling Concord's Radio Buffs  Concord's Neighborhood Network (CNN) is developing two emergency radio systems: a two-way radio network throughout Concord between neighborhoods and emergency personnel, and an emergency broadcast program using the high school radio station. Those interested in learning more can attend a meeting at the Police Station on January 20th at 9 AM.CNN, the ad hoc grassroots group, has been helping neighborhoods organize and prepare for emergencies. The Concord Police concur that both these communications tools are an important next step for the community. There are 80 amateur (ham) radio licensees in Concord, and CNN hopes they will attend this meeting. "Because of their reach and the excellent training of their operators, amateur radios will be vital to this network," says Deborah Bier, a co-founder of CNN. "Ham operators have always been important for relaying information during emergencies and their experience at this is irreplaceable." Joint efforts between CNN, Concord Carlisle High School, the police, the Concord Carlisle Community Chest, the high school PTG, and area banks will see the revitalization of the high school radio station sometime in the near future. CNN is looking for volunteers who would like to get involved with the radio station, both for the emergency broadcast program as well as its regular operation. Besides amateur radio operators, anyone generally interested in any aspect of radio communications is invited to attend. For more information, call Deborah Bier at 369-0113 or email her at webmaster@concordma.com.
Come to the Next Neighborhood Contact Meeting  On January 25th at 7:15 PM at Concord Carlisle High School, all of Concord's Neighborhood Contacts and Alternate Neighborhood contacts will meet with members of Concord's Neighborhood Network (CNN) and the Concord Police. All Neighborhood Contacts and any citizens interested in this effort are encouraged to attend. This second meeting of the network is to further develop the citizen-based emergency preparedness system based on neighborhood empowerment and communications. The purpose of the meeting is to review the neighborhood contact system that was established last fall and discuss possible improvements. Future plans involving the two emergency radio systems will be discussed. Refreshments will be served. The meeting is offered through Concord Carlisle Adult and Community Education. Call Di Clymer at 978 369-7172 for more info or email her.
Reverse 911® 
Reverse 911® is a proprietary system combining computer database and GIS (computer mapping) technologies. It allows the police to define highly sophisticated and precisely targeted
telephone communications. They can identify a group with a common characteristic (such as Neighorhood Contacts or the at-risk elderly), or target a geographic area, identified and selected block by block. The identified group can then be phoned with an automated message to which they can respond using the buttons of the touchtone phone. This cuts down on hours of phone time by police personnel, delivering the message more quickly than a small human staff could, leaving emergency personnel available for other tasks.
"This system is going to expand our reach at very reasonable cost; we will certainly get our money's worth from it," says Police Chief Len Wetherbee. "The ability to get information out to citizens without tying up police personnel will in effect expand our staff without expanding the budget or hiring a single extra person."
Anyone interested in contributing can send a check made out to The Community "Reverse 911" Fund, c/o
Middlesex Savings Bank (attention: Patrick Tadden) at 64 Main Street, Concord, MA 01742.
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This website is a gift to the Concord community from Hometown Websmith, a full-service Internet marketing company. 978 369-0113. PO Box 285 - Concord, MA 01742 webmaster@concordma.com
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We can all be grateful that over the new year we had both a 140-neighborhood-strong communications network AND that we didn't have to use it due to Y2K disruptions! 
