Chicopee’s new emergency notification system to be in place this winter

Date: 10/18/2011

Oct. 19, 2011

By G. Michael Dobbs

Managing Editor

CHICOPEE — 2011 has been a “year of disasters,” according to Mayor Michael Bissonnette, but in 2012 the public safety effort in the city will have an additional resource to protect residents: an emergency notification system.

Noting the blizzard, Tropical Storm Irene and a microburst, Bissonnette said the new system would allow police, fire, health and public works officials to call homes with important messages.

During a press conference at the Fire Department headquarters on Oct. 13, Bissonnette said the new system has been nine months in the planning and will cost taxpayers $60,000 over a three-year period. City officials were able to reduce the price of the system from $100,000 through competitive bidding.

The messages could range from information on power outages to parking bans and closed roads, he noted.

The mayor said the new service should prevent the city’s 911 number from being over-taxed during an emergency. He said the 911 system “blew up” during the microburst in July.

Bissonnette added the system is similar to the one used by the School Department to communicate with parents.

Both Police Chief John Ferraro Jr. and Fire Chief Stephen Burkott praised the new system. Burkott said, “It’s another tool in our tool box.”

Residents can sign up for the new service by logging on the city’s website at www.chicopeema.gov. Kenneth Richon, the city’s emergency management director, said those people without a computer will be able to register their telephone number by going to either the senior center or the public library.

Bissonnette said there would be testings of the system and trainings for personnel from the departments who will be authorized to use the system in the next 30 to 60 days. He believes the new system will be ready for the first snow emergency of the season.