Pam Fortner
pfortner@swanzeynh.gov
603-313-6571
Deputy Emergency Management Director
Joe DiRusso
jdirusso@swanzeynh.gov
603-352-7116
RAVE Alerts - Emergency Notification
The Town of Swanzey has contracted with Emergency Communications Network, Inc., of Ormond Beach, Florida, for its CodeRed high-speed telephone emergency notification services. The CodeRed system gives town officials the ability to deliver pre-recorded emergency telephone notification/critical information messages to targeted areas or the entire town of Swanzey at a rate of up to 60,000 calls per hour. Critical community alerts might include evacuation notices, bio-terrorism alerts, boil water notices, missing child reports and Public Health events. CodeRed gives those who want to be notified an easy and secure method for doing so.
The number that shows up on Caller ID when receiving an alert message is 866-419-5000. When called back, this phone number also will replay the last message sent to that phone for 30 days.
However, the system is only as good as the telephone database supporting it. The telephone database in your telephone directory is the original database. If your number is unlisted, or you have only cell phone service, you will not be called. The CodeRed system not only offers faster calling rates and improved message delivery, it also gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own phone numbers directly to the system’s telephone database.
No one should automatically assume his or her phone number is included in the data base. All businesses should register, as well all individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, those who have changed phone numbers or addresses with in the last year, and those who use a cell phone as their primary phone.
All individuals should fill out a “CodeRed Residential and Business Data Collection” form. This form can be completed on line by clicking the CodeRed logo in the sidebar to the right of this page.
Residents who do not have Internet access or do not wish to update their data on line may obtain a data collection form at the Swanzey Police Station (34 Eaton Road) or mailed to Swanzey Emergency Management (P.O. Box 10009, Swanzey NH 03446).
The CodeRed system is a geographically-based notification system. Street addresses are required for selecting phone numbers to receive notification calls. The system works fine for cell phones too, but we have to have a physical street address. People who have recently moved but kept the same listed or unlisted phone number also need to change their address in the database.
If you do not wish to be on the Emergency notification list, you will need to fill out a “Do Not Call” form. Contact the Emergency Management office at 34 Main St or calling 358-6455.
TDD/TTY Messages delivered to phone numbers marked TDD will ONLY be delivered in a TDD/TTY format.
Public Health Emergency Information
Cheshire Medical Center
Cheshire Public Health Network Coordinator
354-5454 ext. 2130
The Keene All Health Hazard Region (KAHHR) planning group is planning actions so that southwest New Hampshire will swiftly and effectively respond to and recover from a public health emergency. Public Health emergencies differ from more common disasters (i.e. ice storm, flood, fire) in both scope and duration. A public health emergency is defined as an event that affects the public's health: a highly contagious disease, for example, or a natural disaster, or bioterrorism. A public health emergency could last days or months. It might affect only a specific town, or an entire country.
Every community member is equally vulnerable. We might expect worker shortages due to illness or caring for a family member. Ill patients and worried citizens might overwhelm healthcare providers. The region might open an Acute Care Center (ACC) to manage overflow from medical facilities. The region might open Points of Distribution clinics (PODs) to quickly provide medications to citizens. In addition, we might impose isolation or quarantine orders. And we might need expanded morgue facilities to process higher-than-normal numbers of deaths.
The dedicated KAHHR planning group considered each of these issues and customized a response to suit our region's needs. No single municipality has the resources to mange a health emergency by itself. The remedy is advance planning and combining resources from towns, medical, and social service organizations so that the region provides a powerful response.
The Cheshire Public Health Network coordinates the region's preparedness planning with advice from the planning team of representatives from: the Towns of Alstead, Chesterfield, Fitzwilliam, Gilsum, Harrisville, Hinsdale, Keene, Marlborough, Marlow, Nelson, Richmond, Roxbury, Stoddard, Sullivan, Surry, Swanzey, Troy, Walpole, Westmoreland, and Winchester; Cheshire Medical Center; Home Health Care, Hospice & Health Community Services (HCS); local chapters of the American Red Cross and Monadnock United Way; Monadnock Family Service (MFS); Keene State College; SAUs; employees from the NH Departments of Health and Human Services, and Homeland Security/Emergency Management; and other agencies.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding how the region is preparing for a public health emergency, please contact the Cheshire Public Health Network Coordinator at 354-5454 ext. 2130.
SPECIAL MEDICAL NEEDS REGISTRATION FORM
