By Bronislaus B. Kush, Telegram & Gazette
Original publication date: Aug. 14, 2011

WORCESTER, Ma. — The city has launched an electronic notification system to alert residents about emergencies and other critical community news.

ALERTWorcester can notify signed-up residents about severe weather, unexpected road closures, utility problems, parking bans, fall leaf pick-ups, power outages, evacuations and other items of importance.

The time-sensitive messages can be sent to computers and home, business, and cell phones via emails, phone calls or texting.

“This state-of-the-art technology allows us to keep our residents informed and enhance preparedness for their families and loved ones,” City Manager Michael V. O’Brien said in a recent memorandum to the City Council outlining the program.

The system has been up and running for about two and a half months, and city officials plan to promote the program during September, which has been designated Emergency Preparedness Month.

To date, about 600 people have signed up.

“We’re planning a big push next month, but to this point, news about ALERTWorcester has been spread neighbor to neighbor,” said David W. Clemons, the city’s director of emergency communications.

The program is funded by a one-year grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Mr. Clemons said participants can prioritize how they want to receive their messages.

To date, the system has only been used to notify people of water main breaks. It was not utilized earlier this summer when tornadoes swept through Central Massachusetts, because city officials were alerted by the National Weather Service that the storms would pass well south of the city.

“It’s very easy to numb people with weather advisories,” said Mr. Clemons. “When we notify people about a weather event, we want to make sure it is specific to the city.”

He said that during pending weather emergencies, city officials are in constant contact with the National Weather Service.

“We get minute by minute updates,” Mr. Clemons said.

Interested individuals can sign up for the notification system by visiting Worcester’s website (www.worcesterma.gov/emergency-communications) and clicking on ALERTWorcester. Those who may need assistance with registration, including the disabled, may call (508) 929-1300.

The program is not restricted to city residents. People with connections to the city, such as out-of-towners who own property here, may sign up.

“Somebody might have an elderly parent living in the city who’s dependent on oxygen from a machine,” said Mr. Clemons. “If the power goes out, notification (of the outage) would be sent out (to the son or daughter).”

He said the system searches out the addresses provided by participants.

Officials said ALERTWorcester is speedier and more efficient than the older, so-called “reverse 911” systems that send out “robot calls.” Mr. Clemons said emergency dispatch supervisors are authorized to send out notifications, and ALERTWorcester is so sophisticated that he can be at the scene of an emergency and send out notice of the problem from his lap top computer. 

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