If there's something strange
In your neighborhood
Who you gonna call?
Do you have a friend who is your go-to for everything? I do! She is a fountain of information and she literally knows everything going on around us, and if she doesn’t know, she knows how to find out about it. A great recent example is how she saw that there was a robbery in Palo Alto that looked similar to a robbery in Redwood City. She called and flagged it for the Redwood City police and because she spoke up and helped connect the suspect, she helped to SOLVE the robbery. 🕵️ She is a true local hero. I asked her for ALL her go-to resources for staying in-the-know and aware of what is going on around the neighborhoods. Luckily, Katie compiled it all and I get to share it here with you all so you can stay safe, up to date, and obviously, solve all the local crimes. (just kidding)
This is VERY comprehensive. So definitely save this for future reference and share it with your friends and family with the share button! Did we miss any of your favorites? Share them with us over on IG @good_living_lowdown!
Websites/Newsletter sign-ups:
SMC Alert - San Mateo County- SMC ALERT is an alert notification system used to immediately contact you during urgent or emergency situations. You can set alerts to send emergency and non-emergency text and voice messages.
Nixle- Redwood City Updates. Enter zip code to get up-to-date info on public safety. -
Cal Fire State-Wide Fire Incidents- List of fires that are Cal Fire's responsibility (which doesn't include ALL of California)-
San Mateo County Fire Department- Newsletter sign-up (Cal Fire CZU, San Mateo, Coastside)-
Phone:
PulsePoint- You can follow live reports and responses for SMCPSC (San Mateo County Office of Public Safety Communications). Which includes medical or fire calls in the county.
Wildfire Info- This app lists all the active wildfires. It's not the easiest app to navigate, but one of the better ones I've found.
My Lightning Tracker- This app will show storms, and where and when there is active lightning. We don't get a lot of lightning in the area, but it was helpful during the big storms last August.
AirVisual- This app will share real time air quality readings. I find it easier to navigate than web based Purple Air.
Caltrans QuickMap- This is an all inclusive map that shows road construction, closed roads, traffic, CHP incidents, Winter chain control, and more. By clicking on "options", you can toggle on more or less features.
Nextdoor- Not just a place for people to complain about leaf blowers.
Your iPhone Settings- Under settings > notifications > scroll all the way to the bottom: Make sure all 3 Government Alerts are on (Amber, Emergency and Public Safety). When this system works correctly, it is supposed to be based off your phone's current GPS position, so you will be notified of any emergencies in the area (ie. You are on vacation in Hawaii, you should receive a notification about a tsunami warning).
Who you gonna call? Not Ghostbusters. Have you come across wires down in the street or there is a light or stop sign down, or something you need to report, but isn’t an emergency and don’t need to call 911? The number to call is 650-802-4277 in San Carlos. Here is a link to other city non-emergency reporting numbers.
Website Based:
CHP Traffic Incident- This is a direct link to the live CHP CAD data. It will show where any officers have been dispatched to incidents. It's the actual system that officers use, so it's not very civilian friendly. It's also web based, and doesn't have an app. Lastly, all the coding is done in 10-Code Police terms, so it might be a little hard to understand. But if you are stuck in a big traffic jam, you can look up to see what's going on. The Bay Area is under the "Golden Gate" communications center (in the drop down menu). Click on details, and you'll see what's going on. Here's a link to the basic glossary, but for most people this will be overkill.
Twitter/Facebook/Social Media:
Almost all local police, fire and safety departments have social media accounts. Most departments update them with some frequency, so follow along on your city's pages. Here are a few handles for you to easily follow.
@SMCSheriff, @CALFIRECZU, @calfireSCU, @NWSBayArea, @AirDistrict, @redwoodcityfire, @SMCFireDept, @belmontcapolice, @RedwoodCityPD, @SanMateoPD
THANK YOU KATIE! These resources compiled in one spot is super helpful to our neighbors and friends to stay aware and alert! And apologies in advance if you have the Ghostbusters song stuck in your head now :)