City prepares for potential emergency
, Community Editor
01-20-2009
Test call planned to ensure residents get important info
The City of Ennis announced this week that it has selected the Connect-CTY mass notification service from Blackboard Connect Inc. (NASDAQ BBBB) as the best means to allow city officials to communicate with residents regarding time-sensitive incidents, which may include planned and unforeseen public safety matters.
The Connect-CTY service allows officials to record, send and track personalized voice messages to thousands of residents, businesses and local agencies in mere minutes, through a single phone call. The service requires no additional hardware to activate; messages can be sent from any computer with Internet access or a telephone, ensuring that officials can send vital messages from wherever they are located.
City Manager Steve Howerton believes the new system is the best way to communicate in times of emergencies.
“We recognize the importance of being able to communicate quickly and efficiently in time-sensitive situations that may potentially threaten public safety,” Howerton said. “With the Connect-CTY service, we can easily notify and update residents in a very short timeframe.”
The city will conduct its first communitywide test call on Thursday, Jan. 22.
City administrators can target messages to an unlimited number of groups – everything from mobilizing Ennis emergency response teams to coordinating efforts with external agencies or volunteers. Authorized users also can use a map on the Connect-CTY system to contact specific geographical locations, sending messages only to the residents within select neighborhoods when needed.
Howerton hopes community members will register their contact information so everyone can be notified during a time of emergency.
“I strongly urge residents to enter their contact information, including home phones, cell phones and e-mail addresses, into the Connect-CTY service’s database so that they are prepared to receive important information at any time.”
Primary residential and business phones made available to the public in Ennis will automatically be included in the system. However, residents can opt to provide their complete information (up to three phone numbers) and indicate if they have a TTY/TDD device by visiting the Ennis Web site (www.ennis-texas.com) and clicking on the link that says “SIGN UP NOW – SERVICES BY CONNECT-CTY” to enter their information into the secure database. Those without Internet access can have their information added into the system by calling 972-875-1234. Residents with call blocking services will need to add the city’s number – 972-875-1234 – to their approved numbers list to be certain that they receive the time sensitive calls from the system.
Brendan Cotter, president of Connect CTY said the system is a powerful tool in the effort to inform residents regarding emergency situations.
“The best way to keep residents informed and, therefore, safe is through communication, and the Connect-CTY service makes it easy,” Cotter said. “With the Connect-CTY service, administrators have a powerful tool for mass communication without having to purchase new computers, software and telephone lines.”
For more information on the system or how to sign up visit the city’s Web site at www.ennis-texas.com.
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