MANVILLE: Residents encouraged to enter cell phone numbers to get emergency alerts

By Mary Ellen Day, Special Writer
   When Hurricane Sandy took Manville’s power, many residents were left in the dark about what was happening.
   Manville officials know they must work on communicating better to residents before and during future storms.
   Resident Alan Mazur asked at the Nov. 12 Borough Council meeting what kind of protocol Manville has for communicating in times of crisis with the residents.
   ”I had very little idea what was happening in the town,” he said. “Part of the reason was that, when we lose electricity, (telephone) landlines die. So communication there is key.”
   Mr. Mazur said he had a friend with a generator who received the borough’s reverse 911 calls and that’s how he found out what was going on. The only piece of communication he received was a flier, circulated door to door by CERT members, that Sacred Heart Church was opening up as a warming station.
   The borough has a reverse 911 system that automatically places calls to all Verizon, Comcast or Optimum subscribers. Seven to nine robocall-type messages went out during the storm, but many weren’t received because of the lack of electricity, Mayor Angelo Corradino said.
   Emergency Management Coordinator Ken Otrimski said there are more than 5,100 landline phone accounts in Manville, and as many as 3,000 phones didn’t receive messages. He urged residents to enter their cell phones into the system.
   The messages told residents about such things as the governor’s imposition of gas rationing, updates on PSE&G work schedules and the hours and sites of warming centers and shelters.
   Mayor Corradino urged all residents to register both their landline and cell phones. To sign up, go to manvillenj.org and click on the “global connect” symbol.
   Residents also can sign up for Nixle emergency text alerts. Register through the Manville Police Department website at manvillepd.org. Nixle will send text messages, limited to 160 characters, to your phone and refer you to a website if more detailed information is available.
   Mr. Mazur said he felt communication would stop rumors.
   While at Walmart, Mr. Mazur said he ran into Council President Sherri Lynn, and she told him there were three areas he could go to for information: the VFW, Borough Hall and the OEM building.
   Mr. Mazur saw Gary Garwacke at Borough Hall and asked if there was list of phone numbers to notify the residents, but was told it would be difficult to keep the numbers up to date. He said it should be something to be looked into so there is some sort of communication at all times.
   He told the mayor, “You are supposed to be the leader of our community. You’re the daddy that I look up to in this time of trouble.”
   Mr. Mazur suggested using the library as a fourth source for information.
   Resident Linda Marshlek also voiced her concerns about the communications and the radio station Manville used to have at 1700 AM.
   ”From Irene, there was none. From Sandy there was none,” she said.
   The mayor said Sandy blew the wires down.
   Ms. Marshlek asked why someone didn’t look for an alternate source for the future. She said the only lifeline she had was listening to NJ 101.5.
   Mayor Corradino said the administration will look into it.
   Resident Ruth Slovik said she saw a sign at the firehouse on North 13th Avenue that urged residents to listen to announcements — but did not say where. She suggested public signs, like the new one at Manville High School as well as fire and police stations, be used to post information.