Boro sets up emergency warning system

New system used to issue tornado watch to residents last week

BY KATHY CHANG Staff Writer

METUCHEN- Residents can now receive emergency and other messages via the borough’s local Channel 15 (MeTV), the borough’s Web site, e-mail, and even text messages to mobile phones.

“Last week we sent out a message of a tornado watch, which is less serious than a warning, but it is important for people to still be aware,” James Graziano, who is the borough’s emergency management coordinator, said at the Borough Council meeting on June 2.

The TelVue WEB-EM technology enables Metuchen emergency managers to reach residents with local, timely, accurate, and actionable emergency information via four communication methods.

The technology is only one part of what the TelVue Corp., based in Mount Laurel, offers.According to the TelVueWeb site, it is a publicly traded company that provides public, education and government (PEG) channels a comprehensive and integrated solution for state-of-the-art digital media systems, progressive bulletin board technology, localized content, award-winning creative and production services, dynamic workflow options, and aftermarket technical expertise.

The technology allows Borough officials to enter a message from any Internet connected computer to communicate emergency and other messages simultaneously through Metuchen TV (MeTV) Channel 15, the Borough Web site (www.metuchennj.org), text messages to mobile phones, and e-mail.

“It doesn’t simply raise the red flag in warning, it provides communities with the resources needed to communicate information before, during and after an emergency such as a school closing, road repairs, or other events,” said Mayor Thomas Vahalla.

Police Chief James Keane added that the new technology allows residents to receive valuable and accurate information as it may affect them.

The system fills a critical role in emergency response by complementing the national Emergency Alert System (EAS) at the county, district and local level. The system allows authorized Metuchen officials to add, edit and manage municipal channel information and content from wherever Internet access is available. The result is a communication resource that is suited to the flexibility required by Metuchen’s emergency managers, school officials, and residents on the move.

TelVue staffs its supporting facility 24 hours, seven days a week and 365 days a year to ensure total system reliability. Metuchen was one of three towns that participated in testing the product in 2006.

MeTV station manager Rich DeSimone brought the original idea to TelVue and has been active in the product’s development.

“MeTV has always been a valuable source for community information, and this new service extends our reach ensuring that all residents – even those who are not cable subscribers or are not near their TV sets – have access to critical information during an emergency,” he said.

Graziano added that if an individual does not have access to basic cable, a computer or cell phone, they can listen to 1580 AM radio for emergency messages, which ranges throughout the entire borough. The borough implemented the radio station in 2005.

Metuchen residents can subscribe by going to www.metuchennj.org clicking on the WEB-EM link and following the directions, or by going directly to www.webem.tv. In addition to receiving emergency messages, residents can choose to receive notices from a number of different categories, including all borough departments and commissions, Metuchen schools, the senior center, the library, religious institutions, and civic organizations in the area.

For more information, contact MeTV at 732-603-9750 or e-mail [email protected].