(Dec. 4, 2014) Berlin’s new emergency notification system went live last Tuesday, allowing residents to sign up for emergency alerts delivered via phone or email.
The system will likely get its first test during a scheduled power outage on Saturday, Dec. 13.
“The mayor and council recognized the need to be able to communicate with our citizens quickly and efficiently,” Mayor Gee Williams said in a press release. “The use of a mass notification system that can deliver messages by phone, email or text all at once and to many people will help us keep our residents, businesses and even visitors informed.”
After sending requests for proposals on the system nationwide, Berlin chose Florida-based CodeRED Emergency Notification System. Town staff received training on the system in preparation for its use.
CodeRED allows the Berlin to notify residents of power outages, road closures and other incidents that affect the entire town. Businesses and individuals can sign up for the service on the town’s website.
Berlin will include flyers about the notification system in the next utility bills, due out Wednesday, Dec. 10.
“We really encourage you to take advantage of this,” Williams said, calling the system “modern communication … that keeps you informed.”
“As quickly as we know something you know it,” he said. “We want to keep you informed and you can help us by telling us your preferred way of being contacted by the town.”
Berlin and Delmarva Power scheduled a townwide outage for Saturday, Dec. 13 from midnight until 4 a.m. to allow work on the infrastructure in town. Electric Utilities Director Tim Lawrence said the majority of citizens might not even notice the outage.
“It’ll be largely unnoticed because it’s going to be at midnight on a Saturday night,” he said. “Things like food, for example, as long as their refrigerator door is shut, it’ll be fine.
“Most people are asleep at that time, but we’ll notify the fire department, the police department, all the citizens,” Lawrence continued. “We’ll include something in the utility building and on the town website.”
Lawrence said the outage was dependent on the weather and that the outage would be postponed if the temperature is at or below freezing.
“[Delmarva Power] is right on schedule as far as the work, but it’s all dependent on weather,” he said.
A similar outage occurred a few years ago, with very little notice.
“Delmarva Power had to do some work and they had to do the same thing – it was about a four-hour outage and I think we got two phone calls,” Lawrence said. Atlantic General Hospital is on a separate grid from the rest of the town and will be unaffected by the outage, according to Lawrence.
For more information on CodeRED call Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen at 410-641-4314 or visit www.berlinmd.gov.
The system will likely get its first test during a scheduled power outage on Saturday, Dec. 13.
“The mayor and council recognized the need to be able to communicate with our citizens quickly and efficiently,” Mayor Gee Williams said in a press release. “The use of a mass notification system that can deliver messages by phone, email or text all at once and to many people will help us keep our residents, businesses and even visitors informed.”
After sending requests for proposals on the system nationwide, Berlin chose Florida-based CodeRED Emergency Notification System. Town staff received training on the system in preparation for its use.
CodeRED allows the Berlin to notify residents of power outages, road closures and other incidents that affect the entire town. Businesses and individuals can sign up for the service on the town’s website.
Berlin will include flyers about the notification system in the next utility bills, due out Wednesday, Dec. 10.
“We really encourage you to take advantage of this,” Williams said, calling the system “modern communication … that keeps you informed.”
“As quickly as we know something you know it,” he said. “We want to keep you informed and you can help us by telling us your preferred way of being contacted by the town.”
Berlin and Delmarva Power scheduled a townwide outage for Saturday, Dec. 13 from midnight until 4 a.m. to allow work on the infrastructure in town. Electric Utilities Director Tim Lawrence said the majority of citizens might not even notice the outage.
“It’ll be largely unnoticed because it’s going to be at midnight on a Saturday night,” he said. “Things like food, for example, as long as their refrigerator door is shut, it’ll be fine.
“Most people are asleep at that time, but we’ll notify the fire department, the police department, all the citizens,” Lawrence continued. “We’ll include something in the utility building and on the town website.”
Lawrence said the outage was dependent on the weather and that the outage would be postponed if the temperature is at or below freezing.
“[Delmarva Power] is right on schedule as far as the work, but it’s all dependent on weather,” he said.
A similar outage occurred a few years ago, with very little notice.
“Delmarva Power had to do some work and they had to do the same thing – it was about a four-hour outage and I think we got two phone calls,” Lawrence said. Atlantic General Hospital is on a separate grid from the rest of the town and will be unaffected by the outage, according to Lawrence.
For more information on CodeRED call Deputy Town Administrator Mary Bohlen at 410-641-4314 or visit www.berlinmd.gov.