Township, Police Implement New Emergency Notification System

Last year, a hurricane hit Cinnaminson, a string of burglaries affected township homes and accidents shut down roads.

But since the township’s emergency notification phone system had been down for quite some time, residents didn’t receive the voice messages they were so used to.

Now, Cinnaminson residents can rely on those emergency phone calls; the Cinnaminson Police Department and other officials have begun using Global Connect, an emergency notification system. It gives the township the ability to call thousands of people within minutes.

“It’s much better than the system we had before,” said Public Safety Director Michael P. King. “If there are burglaries in one section of town, we can notify them first, then do the entire town so everybody is aware of it.”

Global Connect uses voiceovers to send messages to a database of telephone numbers, email addresses or even fax numbers. Right now, Comcast phone customers and cell phone-users need to register their numbers on the Cinnaminson Police website.

In the event of an emergency, the system allows King, or another emergency management official, to record a personalized message that will go to all registered numbers in a matter of seconds.

“When Cinnaminson residents need to be informed of any public safety issue, series of home burglaries, water main break, fast-moving fire, approaching storm, or other crisis, the Global Connect emergency notification system is the most efficient way to reach them with the news,” said Craig Bird, CEO and founder of Global Connect, in a recent release.

The notification system is made possible through the county’s office of emergency management.

“They are providing us with this system,” King said. “It’s a much better system [than before] at no cost.”

Other features of Global Connect include instant callback, remote access and real-time reporting.

Towns can create a customized list of call recipients by selecting an area affected by the emergency. Emergency management officials can record and sent out a message from any location. And officials can see which residents have received messages.

The system will continue to call residents who have not been reached.

Township committeeman John Rooney calls Global Connect “a proven technology.”

“It will increase the emergency notification services that we provide to our township residents,” Rooney said.