HOOVER – Hoover residents can let the city’s public safety personnel know about family members with special needs prior to an emergency situation.

A recent post on the Hoover Police Department Facebook page reminded residents about a service that allows for a notification to be placed on specific addresses in the city’s dispatch system.

“First responders would be given valuable information before they even reach the scene,” HPD Officer Brian Hale said. “If we know that a resident has certain special needs, then time could be saved and tactics could be altered to adjust to the situation. For example, we could be advised of a resident’s potential threatening behavior, difficulties opening the door or potential communication issues.”

The notifications could be especially useful for children or adults with autism, cerebral palsy or Alzheimer’s/dementia.

Anyone interested in having a notification created for a residence should contact the Hoover Public Safety Communications Center and provide an address, special needs information, emergency contact names and emergency contact numbers (several, if possible).

Requests should be made to Communications Center supervisors Allison Rector (8 a.m. until 4 p.m.)(444-7829) or Linda Moore (11 a.m. to 7 p.m.)(444-7667).

The information provided is kept confidential.

The notifications will alert the dispatcher on duty at the time of an emergency to relay the pertinent special needs information to first responders, including police and firefighters, prior to their arrival at the address.

Hale said it is important to note that the notifications are tied to the address and not a specific name or person.

“If someone moved and didn’t notify us, then the information they provided would remain with the address,” Hale said.