When disaster strikes — a hurricane, say, or a toxic chemical spill on I-95 — the question isn’t “Who you gonna call?”
It should be: “Who’s gonna call you?”
The answer is simple: Nixle.
The town-wide notification system can mean the difference between losing your car to a flood, or moving it to higher ground. Or driving into downed wires, or avoiding the area completely. Or dozens of other dangerous scenarios, which — thanks to modern technology — Westport’s emergency services personnel and first responders can now warn us about.
Nixle is nimble. Notifications can be sent in any form residents want to receive them: text, email or phone. They can be sent to every resident in town, or only an affected neighborhood or group.
They can even be scheduled by time. We can get an alert first thing in the morning — but it won’t unduly alarm us at 3 a.m.
When disaster strikes — as it did during Hurricane Isaias, here on Prospect Road near Hillandale — Nixle can warn of road closures.
Nixle is an opt-in system. (To sign up, text 06880 to 888777, or click here.)
It’s used by Westport’s emergency management team, and the Police Department.
The other day, emergency management director Nick Marsan and Police Captain Dave Wolf described the system.
It can be used for a variety of situations, including drinking water contamination, utility outages, evacuation notices, unexpected road closures, missing persons, fires, flash flood and tornado warnings, bomb threats, chemical spills and gas leaks.
It is used sparingly, Marsan and Wolf stress, in public safety and emergency situations. In other words: Nixle will notify users about a flash flood. It will not be used every time rain is coming.
(Big storms, yes. A Nixle message might say “65 mph winds are expected. Stay off roads, and prepare for long-term power outages.”)
A Nixle text alert …
Officials want to ensure that when residents get a Nixle alert, they understand it’s serious.
That’s why Nixle is not used for heavy traffic (an all-too-common occurrence). If, however, traffic lights are inoperable, or detours are in place, an alert could be sent.
(So how can you find out about “normal” traffic issues? Sign up for Police and Fire Department’s social media: Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.)
Officials realize that residents get information in a variety of ways: texts, calls, emails.
Some older residents prefer old-fashioned phone calls. Nixle sends those too (and leaves a message, if the call is not answered).
Text messages are brief, and to the point: “Long Lots Road is closed between Turkey Hill and Hyde Lane, due to a car fire.” Emails and phone messages can be longer.
Only a few people in each department have authority to issue a Nixle alert. That prevents over-use of the system.
“Unless a meteor is coming, we have a few minutes to plan our message,” Marsan says.
Typically there is a quick discussion before an alert is issued, to ensure that the proper message goes out, to the right audience.
Not every resident needs to know, for example, to move to higher ground during a storm surge. But those living near the shore do. Any Nixle message can be sent to the entire town, or any segment of it.
(If you’re signed up, you’ll get an alert even if you’re not physically here. That’s helpful, if you need to tell a nanny or neighbor the news.)
… and the dashboard. It shows that 2 flood alerts were sent to over 6,000 text recipients, more than 3,000 email users, and over 100 phone lines.
Human Services Department Elaine Daignault also uses Nixle. She maintains a list of residents who may be particularly vulnerable during emergencies. She can offer information, and ask if they need food or other resources.
Many people on Daignault’s list — including those with vision issues — prefer the phone to emails or texts. Nixle allows her to communicate easily, by recorded voice.
Marsan and Wolf point to unexpected uses of the system. One morning, heavy — and unexpected — ice caused several accidents. A Nixle message went out: “Extreme ice conditions throughout Westport.” Residents were urged to take care when walking outside, getting in and out of cars, and driving.
It’s also been used — successfully — to find residents reported as missing.
“We’ve never regretted sending out a message,” Wolf says. Over time, though officials have refined exactly what they say, and how they say it.
Nixle has not yet been used in Westport for an active shooter, or a hazardous chemical release after a rail accident. Hopefully, it never will be.
But if either event — or any other unforeseen incident — happens, Nixle will let us know.
We just have to sign up for it.
(To enroll in Nixle, text 06880 to 888777, or click here. You’ll also have an option to enroll in a database for notification by state officials.)
When Saugatuck Shores floods, Nixle sends targeted messages to the neighborhood. (Photo/Michele Sorensen)
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