Middlefield Launches Alert System Ahead of Hurricane Sandy

Middlefield has launched a new tool aimed at protecting residents in the event of an emergency, like the soon-to-be arriving Hurricane Sandy.

An alert system called Everbridge allows officials to notify the public of emergencies through their home phone, cell phone or email.

Brian Dumas, the town's recently appointed emergency management director, has spent the past several months installing the alert system and said Friday it's now 100 percent operational.

"The Everbridge system is a great system. We used it twice last year and people were very thankful for it," said First Selectman Jon Brayshaw.

"Even I did it. I mean if I can do it, other people can do it," he joked.

Homeowners whose names appear in the White Pages are automatically entered into the Everbridge system, according to Dumas. Residents not listed in the White Pages, or residents who'd like to receive the alerts on their cell phones or through email are encouraged to visit the website to sign up.

To opt out of the system or if you have questions email safermiddlefield@middlefieldct.org or call (860) 349-8349.

Click here for the latest on Hurricane Sandy

Dumas plans to meet with town officials on Sunday afternoon at the Community Center for a briefing on the storm, which forecasters are now predicting will make landfall in southern New Jersey as early as Monday.

Brayshaw said the town's highway department spent Friday cleaning catch basins around town to prevent flooding.

Dumas, who took over the job as emergency management director after Terry Parmelee stepped down earlier this year, offered the following advice:

"For people who are looking to prepare, [make sure you have] drinking water and non-perishable food. Anybody that's going to be running a generator make sure it's hooked up properly. Make sure it's in a well ventilated area where you're not going to be pushing CO gas from your exhaust pipe into the house," he said.