First Lady Takes Calls In NORAD Tracks Santa Program

The NORAD Santa Tracker website also offers a chance to explore the North Pole.

After a few weeks, someone at the Continental Air Defense Command (which is now NORAD) had an inspired idea. Thanks to the advent of the internet, it’s easier than ever to follow Santa on his rounds.

With less than 24 hours to go before Christmas, NORAD’s Santa Tracker shows viewers exactly where Santa is at any given moment and how many gifts have been delivered.

The toll free number to the NORAD Tracks Santa hotline is 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723).

Sears published an ad which urged kids they could call Santa, but they accidentally listed NORAD’s number.

First Lady Michelle Obama reacts while talking on the phone to children across the country as part of the annual NORAD Tracks Santa program. The personnel at Peterson Air Force base in the western US state of Colorado are answering phone calls from kids across the world with the latest information on Santa’s location on his journey and an estimate of when he will arrive in their town.

“But before it’s quite time for that Christmas Eve snooze, you get to check on Santa, and there’s nothing to lose!”

In its 60th year, NORAD is expecting to field about 125,000 calls from around the world. Under the orders of Director of Operations Colonel Harry Shoup, radar dishes were turned north, toward Santa, and soldiers were instructed to report Santa’s position to any child who called. You will also find apps for Windows mobile devices, iOS, and Android. Google’s Santa tracking site includes a blend of games, videos, and educational activities using Google services leading up to the official Santa tracking on Thursday.

There is also a Google Santa Tracker available to give a different version of the update. Don’t forget children, he can see you when you’re sleeping and he knows when you’re awake – so be good so he doesn’t have a conflict over who should get presents or who shouldn’t get presents. AT&T eventually spun off Nortel, which later spun off Avaya – the company that now helps manage NORAD’s insane call volume on Christmas Eve.