Although the City of Oak Forest is a safe community to live and raise a family, an incident may arise that warrants rapid emergency communication with residents and businesses. The city is prepared for such an event. 

Through the American Emergency Notification (AEN) system, the Police Department can send high-speed emergency messages or notifications to pre-determined geographic areas. AEN is a computerized system and has the ability to access the entire 911 system database of more than 14,000 telephone numbers.  

In an emergency, the system calls your Oak Forest phone number and delivers a recorded message explaining the emergency and instructions for you and your family. If your phone is busy, the system will make two additional attempts to contact you.  The system will leave a message if you have an answering machine.

This technology enables the city to contact a large number of people in a very short period of time. It also helps the poilce and fire departments to increase their efficiency and enhance public safety when it is needed.  

Incidents which could result in a communication alert include: 

• Water system or utility emergency
• Public safety alerts regarding criminal activity
• Local AMBER Alert
• Chemical or natural gas emergency
• Other situations deemed to be a neighborhood or community emergency