Community Connect expands what it offers and how it can help first responders as they respond to emergencies and provide information for those who are signed up.
Fire Chief Nate Bennett says this software is expanding to be able to provide important notices to those who sign up for them, like severe weather warnings. The Weather Department issues warnings for general areas, but the warnings that can come from Community Connect can be more specific, detailed. Community Connect can inform residents if their part of town or neighborhood will be affected by the warning of up to 1-inch hail, for example, or a tornado or other damaging winds.
Community Connect can also, now be used, to target the entire community with important announcements of events or meetings taking place.
Like when the city is doing maintenance on its water lines and hydrants – sometimes affecting water color or quality for a short time.
But ONLY if you sign up for that.
What you want is what YOU sign up for.
It will not be used by political candidates.
It will not be used by salespersons hawking their wares.
It will not be used by anyone other than to provide for you, the resident, what you are interested in receiving.
Approximately seven months ago the Devils Lake Fire Department initiated Community Connect, use of new software to help both firefighters and the community.
This new technology could save lives and since the Journal first reported on it a number of residents have signed up by entering details and information about their property so the DLFD has it in their data banks when, and if there is an emergency and they need to know.
It saves on file only the information that you – the resident provides, like how to enter your home in an emergency, say maybe a fire. The resident provides what the key code is, if your home has one on the front door, for example. Only the Fire Chief, Nate Bennett and their permanent, paid staff personnel have access to the files. It is not given to all the volunteer fire fighters or shared with anyone else.
If you have a key to your home hidden somewhere on the property, that information could be stored, too, and used to gain access if there is a fire or other emergency and you are not at home. That way nothing has to get damaged to gain access.
If you have pets in the home, that is something you’ll want to let the DLFD know about – most people consider their pets part of their family and would hope they would be rescued in an emergency.
If anyone in the home has a mobility issue, vision limits or hearing deficits – those, too, are details that can be part of the record so they know about that as they come to the property in an emergency.
Also, if someone in the home may have something like PTSD, whether diagnosed or not, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, can make an individual sensitive to loud sirens or the commotion outside as responders arrive at a given address, that, too, is something the Fire Department should know about.
If someone is on oxygen in the home is another concern to make first responders aware of.
That, in essence, is what Community Connect provides to help residents and the Fire Department. Bennett added that they are making improvements all the time, so this may not be the last time you hear about this amazing software and how it can benefit your community.
For questions or to sign up for this service, call 662-3913 and ask for the Fire Chief Nate Bennett or set up a time to stop in and visit with him and his staff
