NORAD Tracks Santa’s Route to Piscataway – TAPinto.net

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, CO – Area children may have already caught glimpses of Santa at the Holiday Walk or riding around town on a fire truck, but on Christmas Eve, Santa Claus begins his world-wide journey to bring happiness and joy to children everywhere. While waiting for Santa to arrive at their home, children can visit  www.noradsanta.org for music, games, videos, stories and more. 

As it has for the past 64 years, the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will track Santa’s yuletide journey at www.noradsanta.org. What began as an advertising misprint is now a sophisticated multi-media tracking system that delivers Santa Claus’ whereabouts with split-second precision to children around the world. 

With Windows, Apple and Google Play store apps, and Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Google+ accounts, Santa followers have limitless options to find the jolly old elf in flight. OnStar subscribers can even press the OnStar button in the family car to find out where Santa is in “real” time.

Starting on Dec. 24 at 2:01 a.m. EST, website visitors can watch Santa make preparations for his flight.  NORAD’s “Santa Cams” will stream videos on the website as Santa makes his way over various locations.

As if all that tracking ability were not enough, at 6 a.m. EST, trackers worldwide can speak with a live phone operator to ask about Santa’s location by dialing the toll-free number 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723) or by sending an email to noradtrackssanta@outlook.com.

At the North American Aerospace Defense Command, senior officials are getting ready to track Santa, making sure nothing will interfere with his route.

While unavailable for comment due to his busy work schedule, Santa issued a statement, saying, “Without my reindeer there simply would be no Christmas. Proper veterinary care insures that, year in and year out, my team and I are able to deliver presents to boys and girls around the world. Dr. Kinnarney is definitely on the ‘nice list’ again this year.”

For kids who want to help the reindeer on their journey, Dr. Kinnarney recommended leaving a plate of graham cracker reindeer cookies, their favorite snack, for Santa to feed them between stops.

In 1955, a Colorado Springs-based Sears, Roebuck & Co. advertisement misprinted the telephone number for children to call Santa.  Instead of calls ringing to Santa, the phone number rang the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Air Defense Command (CONAD), what was to become the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD). Instead of turning the calls away, the director of operations, Colonel Harry Shoup, had his staff provide radar-tracked updates of Santa’s location. The tradition has continued for more than 60 years, to the delight of children and parents.