We’re all adjusting to this new normal of staying home and social distancing. And if you’re like me, you’ve got more downtime to use technology for things like streaming TV shows or connecting with loved ones.

Perhaps during this time of COVID-19, you might spend a few minutes evaluating how you can use technology to keep your neighborhood safe. Here are five tips for how you can use technology to keep your community as safe as possible.

1. Visit the CDC website.

Follow the official guidelines to protect yourself and see what to do if you think you’re sick.

2. Use free video conferencing technology.

Zoom, Google Hangouts, and FaceTime allow you to connect with coworkers, family, and even your neighborhood / HOA - for FREE. If you’ve postponed your regular HOA meeting, follow these steps to set up a virtual meeting so that you can keep your community up to date on your neighborhood communications:

• Zoom - click here
• Google Hangouts - click here
• FaceTime - click here

3. Report the crime. Online.

If there’s a criminal incident, research to see if there are means to report it to your police via email or online submission. Most police departments are looking for ways to limit in-person interaction while they continue serving the community. Do your part in seeing if you can connect virtually. Gather as many details as you can (nature of the incident, time, if a vehicle was involved, license plate data, etc.), then visit their website and report the incident.

4. Assess the safety of your community.

Our safety consultants will use Google Earth and a proprietary tool called the Deployment Manager to give you a free neighborhood assessment, and help you determine the best opportunity to leverage license plate readers to stop neighborhood crime. Remember, license plates are the #1 piece of evidence police ask for while investigating crime. Schedule an appt with a consultant today.

5. Support those in greater need 

Let’s be kind to each other. And let’s help each other. If you are healthy, do your part to keep the community safe. Check out charity websites, like this one that shares steps on hosting a virtual fundraiser to feed struggling families.

Have a good tip to share with communities on how to effectively stay connected with technology? Let me know at josh.thomas@flocksafety.com. We’re always looking for great ideas!