Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Martian Invasion - Verizon Emergency Text Alert Causes Panic In New Jersey

NEWARK, N.J. Not fairly this "War Of The Worlds" broadcast of a Martian breach in New Jersey, your Verizon "emergency" warn Monday this the company texted that will it's wireless clients nonetheless jangled a number of nerves and also triggered hundreds associated with calls from concerned inhabitants for you to area along with state offices.

The corporation sent the particular alert to customers throughout Middlesex, Monmouth and also Ocean counties, word of caution on the "civil emergency" in addition to showing persons in order to "take pound now." Trouble was, the meaning ended up being used to often be an evaluation but it was not labeled as such, Verizon afterwards admitted.

In Monmouth County, the number of phone calls towards the county 911 call center doubled among midday and 1 p.m. to over 170, compared to the very same time last week, Cynthia Scott, a state sheriff's team spokeswoman, said.

"It seemed to be much more concern than panic," Scott said. "We possessed men and women getting in touch with whom have lots of questions."

New Jersey State Police likewise fielded calls, when would quite a few public offices throughout Ocean County.

"It looked just like phone calls left for any bureau which had some sort of outlined phone number," claimed Lt. Keith Klements, dividing commander for any county sheriff's office.

The outcome wasn't when intense as being the panic handled off by means of Orson Welles' 1938 "War Of The Worlds" the airwaves put out on the bogus Martian invasion with Grovers Mill, N.J. Many individuals believed the actual sent out seemed to be a true unexpected emergency announcement. But for any limited while Monday, your notify commenced a string effect across a wide swath connected with central New Jersey.

"We have been having reports coming from individuals and not from any kind of with some of our individuals available within the field," Klements said. "And zero just one has been saying it was before coming from a specific source. But we all have got to take it seriously, therefore many of us immediately looked at with all the state."

A spokesman for that state Office of Homeland Security as well as Preparedness failed to instantly returning your cellular phone message.

In a strong email, a Verizon spokesman said the company apologized regarding virtually any trouble as well as concern the fact that message caused. The company didn't say exactly why that meaning has been provided with no being described being a test or perhaps whether or not Monday's experience has been at the first try this kind of miscalculation had occurred.

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