Much attention is being placed on the potential swine flu epidemic. Travel warnings are being issued and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is taking a leadership role in the dissemination of information. At the City of Sandy Springs, we take this issue seriously. Our first responders are being given additional training in light of this potential problem. 911 will begin asking additional questions when calls come in for help. Below you will find links to information from the CDC. Please use it to help your family stay safe and prepared.

Center for Disease Control and Prevention Links

• Swine Flu Information Page
• Key Facts
• Swine Flu Video
• Swine Flu and You (FAQ)
• Antiviral Drugs
• Preventing the Flu: Good Health Habits Can Help Stop Germs
• Swine Influenza: In Pigs and People (Brochure | PDF)
• CDC Says "Take 3" Steps to Fight the Flu (Flyer | PDF)
• Los CDC recomiendan que "Tome 3" Medidas Para Combatir La Influenza (Flyer | PDF)

The City of Sandy Springs signed a contract with SwiftReach Networks to implement SWIFT 911™, an Emergency Notification service, which is a reverse 911 type system. It is capable of contacting and notifying all Sandy Springs residents and community members in the event of an emergency. The City will use the system solely to notify residents of emergency incidents throughout the city, where citizen action is requested to preserve life and/or property.

SWIFT 911™ is a high-speed notification system that, in the event of an emergency, contacts every household and/or phone number either by telephone, email, text or pager. The number residents will see on Caller ID is 770-206-1500. Because this program uses a Sandy Springs map, calls can be made to specific neighborhoods with information affecting only that area. To ensure contact is made, the system can continue calling a home until a person answers the call or it is picked up by an answering machine.

All residents and businesses are encouraged to provide additional contact information (such as e-mail address, unlisted telephone numbers, cellular, work or alternative telephone numbers) by visiting www.sandyspringsga.org and clicking on the SWIFT 911™ icon in the "Quick Links" section on the left hand side of the homepage.

Additionally, the City continues to register residents into its CodeRed Weather Warning system. Weather Warning is also a reverse 911 system that will automatically call residents and businesses with a recorded message from the National Weather Service if a severe weather warning is issued for your area. Anyone who wishes to receive a phone call on their land line or mobile phone needs to sign up by going to www.sandyspringsga.org and clicking on the CodeRed icon. CodeRed is a product of Emergency Communications Network of Ormond Beach, Fla.

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, says before you pay for an identity theft product or service, make sure you understand exactly what you're paying for. Many people find value and conveniences in paying an outside party to help them exercise their rights and protect their information. At the same time, some rights and protections you have under federal or state laws can help you protect your identity and recover from identity theft at no cost. Knowing and understanding your rights can help you determine whether - or which - commercial products or services may be appropriate for you.
 
FRAUD ALERTS
A fraud alert is a signal placed in your credit report or credit file to warn potential creditors that they must use what the law calls "reasonable polices and procedures" to verify your identity before they issue credit in your name.
 
CREDIT FREEZE
A credit freeze allows you to restrict access to your credit report.  If you place a freeze on your report, potential creditors and certain other people or businesses can't get access to it unless you lift the freeze temporarily or permanently.
 
FREE CREDIT REPORTS
Federal law gives every consumer the right to one free credit report from each nationwide consumer reporting company every 12 months.  Visit www.annualcreditreport.com for more information.
 
More information can be obtained from the Federal Trade Commission at www.ftc.gov .