Fire chief launches Twitter account for road updates

Ben Lomond fire Chief John Charcho has partnered with other fire districts in the San Lorenzo Valley to launch an online Twitter account to announce road closures in the valley.
“It’s a good use of technology,” Charcho said, noting that people often call the fire district for road closure updates during a storm. “People could be proactive and get this information sent to their phone (and computer).”
The account can be viewed at www.twitter.com/slvroads.
To sign up for text message alerts, visit www.twitter.com and register for an account. Then under the “settings” tab, follow the directions to adjust your “mobile” settings to follow SLVROADS through text messaging. Standard text-messaging rates apply to each Twitter update received on a mobile phone.
As of Thursday, Jan. 21, more than 50 people had signed up as “followers” of the account.
Any of the fire districts in the San Lorenzo Valley can update the road conditions, and Charcho hopes it will be an effective tool when storms hit the area.
He said updates will be sent strictly during closures and emergencies.
“We’re doing our very best to keep it updated,” Charcho said.