Which Homes were Notified of Woodridge's (Fake) Gator

After an alligator was sighted in July 27, police sent out an alert to nearby residents via Reverse 911.

But some residents near the park have questioned the system used to do so and how it was decided which homes should be contacted and which should not.

The , turned into the police department on Sunday. However, at the time of the alert, the alligator was believed to be real and moving through the area. 

The activated the automatic call system, telling residents the alligator had been spotted but not yet caught. 

While some residents near the park received notice, others did not, according to Woodridge Resident Debbie Howe. Her neighbor received a call. She did not.

Kate Croteau, management analyst for the Woodridge Police Department, said Reverse 911 is facilitated by the county system. It allows the department to select which areas of town receive the message. 

Only those who have land lines in their homes will receive the call from reverse 911. 

"So if the resident did not receive the message it’s either because they were not in the part of town where the message was sent or they don’t have a land line phone in their house," Croteau said.

Howe lives on Stable Road, about .3 miles from the park. She said three other homes received a call from Reverse 911 on her block, including one farther from the park. Her home has a land line.

She heard about the alligator via a call from her neighbor, after which she learned some residents had received the call while others hadn't. Neighbors got the news out via neighborhood ties, Howe said.