6. SMS Monitor

6.1. Overview

The SMS Monitor’s job is to read and respond to SMS messages from our CERTs, gathering available responders and communicating assignments.

6.2. Details

Our CERT phone number (650 549 5242) is a Google voice number. This means it is a virtual number. Many people can monitor it.

We also have SMS messages set up to forward to a cell phone in the ARK (note: this doesn’t exist in June 2020, but we’re working to get a cell phone and this document assumes we have one).

To access text messages during an event: it helps to have set up things beforehand.

Here are the ways to access SMS messages in Google Voice:

  • You can receive emails with text messages.

    We have google voice configured to send all text messages to the lahcert at gmail account. You can ask to have a forwarding rule set up to forward text messages to your personal email. This works only if the internet is accessable.

  • You can log into the lahcert account and view the messages on line at voice.google.com. Doing this will allow you to send and receive messages. Of course: this assumes the internet is working.

  • You can have sms messages forwarded to your phone. This is what we do for the CERT phone. This requires the cell system to be operating.

As of 2020-06, only Neil Katin and Dave Stewart are set up to do this. We should get additional volunteers.

6.3. Responsibilities

As SMS Monitor you will need to stay in contact with the IC and NCO and relay messages back and forth.

You should expect the IC to ask for information about people who have checked in, and receive requests to relay messages to those people.