Township Considers Using Emergency Management Website

Cinnaminson Township officials are exploring the option of using an emergency management website that would alert the public of fires, criminal activities and more.

The website would tie into the township’s own website and even alert first-responders with the direct information they need.

Ready-Or-Not, based out of Camden, is free of charge to municipalities who utilize the program, but upkeep and number of residents who would use it is a concern, some committee members said.

“We certainly are going to weigh our options because we have the options of Facebook, Twitter, Patch, our own website e-mail blasts, reverse 9-1-1, as well as other ways of accessing the public and getting information out to them,” said Committeeman John Rooney, who serves as the director of public safety (not to be confused with Public Safety Director Michael King).

Here’s how the website would work: In times of an emergency, a township official would use a special login to personalize a webpage with all the information the public should know.

A special icon on the home page of the website would blink, letting visitors know there is an emergency situation the public should potentially know about.

“The sooner the public has the information, the better,” said Fred Campbell, of Ready-Or-Not. Campbell gave a presentation to township committee this week on the program.

But, making sure a township official not only has all the information needed—and the ways and means to present it to the public—remains to be seen.

“I’m worrying about it being kept up,” said Committeeman Ben Young.

Also, without collecting e-mail addresses of residents, and sending them messages when there is an emergency update, there’s no way the public would know to go to the site.

Committeeman Anthony Minniti has said in the past he is hesitant anyway to collect Cinnaminson residents’ e-mail addresses since they are subject to Open Public Records Act requests.

But, the program does have its benefits, Rooney said. It serves as another communication vehicles to get the word out.

“This might be a good tool,” he said. “The value is linking up all township offices.”

The website would also connect certain entities in town, such as the , , and even the .

Rich Dietrich, fire commissioner and emergency management coordinator, was first aware of the program about a year ago.

“When you make information available, it kind of eases people’s minds,” Dietrich said. “The only thing is, [there are groups of people who] aren’t checking things on the Internet as much. It’s the kind of thing the individual has to initiate action to get the information.”

Some township committee members suggested using the website but still a program like reverse 9-1-1. On the phone call to residents, it could direct people to the township website to find out additional information.

The issue there is sometimes it takes hours for all residents to be called through the program.

Dietrich said he and township committee will continue discussions on the website to see if it’s a good fit for the township. Area clients include Edgewater Park schools, Medford and Moorestown schools.

“It’s one of a number of different communication tools,” Campbell said. “We’re adding to the communication matrix.”