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Town Approves 311 Emergency Notification System

Town Approves 311 Emergency Notification System

Immediate Release - Contact: David Chauvin - February 7, 2006 (516) 869-7794

Manhasset, NY – Supervisor Jon Kaiman and Councilman Tom Dwyer were joined by State Senator Michael Balboni in announcing that as part of the North Hempstead efforts to update the Town’s emergency management system, the Town Board has unanimously approved the purchase of a 311 Emergency Notification System. The system, which is an emergency management component of the Town’s new 311 constituent response hotline, was funded by a state grant obtained through Senator Balboni.

“Residents of North Hempstead know they can call 9-1-1 to get police, fire or medical assistance. What they may not know is that starting this spring the Town of North Hempstead will be utilizing a new 311 Emergency Notification System to notify residents and businesses about potential emergency situations,” said Supervisor Kaiman. “This new system is an invaluable tool for the Town to alert the community of ‘time critical’ messages.”

"Seamless communication is critical for successful emergency response. The 311 Emergency Notification System will provide emergency management officials with the means to swiftly disseminate life-saving information to the community, including evacuation routes and shelter information," said State Senator Michael Balboni (R-East Williston), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security. "Hurricane Katrina served as a wake up call that we must focus on emergency preparedness before the disaster strikes. That's why the Town of North Hempstead's purchase of this 311 Emergency Notification System is so important."

The 311 Emergency Notification System will allow the Town to rapidly notify specific geographical areas by telephone by dialing every “land line” phone number associated within the defined area and play an event-specific message that includes instructions on what you need to do. Residents are alerted in a timely fashion about critical events allowing them additional and sometimes crucial time to take action, such as evacuating in the case of eminent natural disasters.

“In emergency situations every second counts,” commented Councilman Dwyer. “The 311 Emergency Notification System will help the Town inform the public while saving precious moments. We can all hope that we will not have to use this system, but will rest easy knowing it will alert us for potential emergencies.”

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