RUSSELL – The town’s 9-1-1 and reverse 9-1-1 Coordinator Susan Maxwell wants to reach all residents and keep everyone informed in case of an emergency. However, that can be more difficult than you might think.
Maxwell sad the town uses the Blackboard Connect system to alert residents of emergencies, weather related issues, and any news pertinent to the town. The problem, she said, is that not every resident has signed-up to be part of the system.
“After the (Halloween) storm, we were thinking hat we should call our Woronoco residents, but when I checked my list I discovered no one had signed up, and most had cell phones,” said Maxwell.
Maxwell sent out 35 letters to Woronoco residents asking them to sign up, but no one called.
“If we know someone’s phone number from another database, we are inputting them manually,” said Maxwell. “We want to be able to reach everyone in case of an emergency.”
Maxwell said the Blackboard Connect system is very advanced.
“It’s really hi-tech,” she sad. “It can do a lot.”
Maxwell is able to type in what she wants to say and the computer will leave a message on a landline or cell phone.
“It can even leave a text message and email,” said Maxwell.
Blackboard Connect allows Maxwell to send messages to the entire town or a particularly group of residents.
“On the computer I can draw a circle on a map and call just a certain neighborhood,” said Maxwell. “I also worked with the Council On Aging so I send messages just to the elderly, too.”
Maxwell said more and more people are terminating their landlines in favor of cell phones and those people are not listed in a directory and must call Maxwell to get on the Blackboard calling list.
We use this to let people know about hydrant flushing, voting changes, electrical outages – just about everything,” said Maxwell. ‘It’s important to let people know about these things.”
Maxwell said as 9-1-1 coordinator, she also needs to gather information from people with health concerns.
“When I get a 9-1-1 call it shows up on the screen if someone is on oxygen or has a health concern,” said Maxwell. “But I’m having a hard time getting people to tell me these things so I can help them.”
Anyone who would like to be added to the Blackboard Connect system, or who has important health information, should contact Maxwell at Town Hall at 862-6204.
