Bernardsville Police Launch New Emergency Alert System

Following a year with two major storms and widespread power outages, the Bernardsville police department has launched an emergency alert system, based on reverse 9-1-1 calls, and was given an opportunity to try out the new system in recent weeks.

, the Bernardsville police department's Office of Emergency Management used the new Community Emergency Notification System to keep residents informed and updated about the local emergency, Bernardsville police said.

The new reverse 9-1-1 calling system was used to notify residents that Route 202  would be closed for more seven hours due to the according to Police Chief Kevin Valentine, who also is Bernardsville Emergency Management Coordinator.

The system, put into place around the start of this year, is designed to quickly broadcast emergency messages to approximately 4,000 telephone numbers within minutes, police said. As a result, on Jan. 18, residents, schools and businesses were alerted to avoid using Route 202. The notification helped alleviate more more serious traffic conditions, police said.

"Officials plan on using the system to warn residents and businesses about local emergencies and to keep them better informed with important facts and information as emergencies unfold," Valentine said.

The alert system will be used by the Bernardsville police communications center in coordination with with other methods of notification of residents currently being used, such as the Bernardsville Police Department website, alerts issued through the local OEM Special Needs Emergency Registration and Notification Program and local press releases.    

The new service is a web-based voice messaging system capable of quickly delivering both voice messages and email messages to program participants.

An extra added feature allows police to use the system for police and fire department text messaging as well as other administrative services. The alert service is funded by the borough and provided through contract services provided by Global Connect, of Mays Landing, and Verizon.

The system maintains a constantly updated database of most landline home and business telephone numbers registered in Bernardsville. This database includes most of the local numbers provided by Verizon, Comcast and some other local communication service providers.

Cell phones also can be registered

Residents are encouraged to register any additional phone numbers such as work numbers, cell phones and email addresses by visiting the Bernardsville police department website.

Police Chief Kevin Valentine said that cell phones and email work best as an alternative to landlines.

If internet access is not available, registration forms can be completed at the police headquarters and submitted for entry into the system, police said. Information provided for emergency notification purposes is confidential and will remain under the control of the Bernardsville police Office of Emergency Management at all times, to only be used for emergency notification purposes.

Bernards Twp. has had reverse 9-1-1 system in place since Hurricane Irene

A reverse 9-1-1 call was displatched to Bernards Township residents through the county's emergency dispatched system following Hurricane Irene late last August. The message, placed by 2011's Mayor John Malay, informed residents that full power was at and at the a few days later.

When appointed as this year's Bernards Township Mayor for 2012, that the township would continue progress in using social media this year to communicate with residents.

How To Sign Up for Emergency Alerts in Bernardsville

The Bernardsville police department continually updates the database of land based telephone numbers registered in the borough, police said, so there is no need to register a land-based telephone number located in Bernardsville.

However, residents and business owners are encouraged to register as many additional telephone numbers and email addresses as needed to help ensure timely notifications are received. You will not receive email notifications unless you register for that free service.

Registration forms will be available at police headquarters in the near future or call the Office of Emergency Management at 908-766-0037 for assistance.

To register, follow these instructions:

1. Visit the Bernardsville Police Department website at www.bernardsvillepd.org and click on the red tab titled “Emergency Alerts” to link to the registration page.
2. Read the program information or scroll down to the registration form.
3. Enter the registrants first and last name in the proper fields. Multiple family members can resister using their own individual names.
4. The next field is the street address; THE STREET ADDRESS IS VERY IMPORTANT and must be filled out with the physical location you are registering. Both businesses and residents must use the actual street address in this field. Addresses outside of Bernardsville will not be integrated with the notification systems-mapping capabilities. Do not use a post office box
5. After you have completed the address information you can provide up to two additional telephone numbers such as a cell phone number or work number. 

* Business owners can register home numbers or other numbers outside of Bernardsville.  Remember to include the Bernardsville address, not your actual home address in the address field. 

* Residents can register work numbers, cell numbers or any other number. Remember to include the Bernardsville address, not your actual home address in the address field.

If you need to register more than two numbers, you can do so by completing the process for the first two numbers. Then return to the website and complete another registration with the remaining numbers. You can do this as many times as you like, just be sure to use the same street address location each time you register.

How to provide an email address to receive email notifications in addition to voice messages. 

After you have completed the email address information, you can provide additional email addresses by completing the registration process, returning to the website and completing another registration with the remaining numbers. You can do this as many times as you like, just be sure to use the same street address location each time you register.

For further information, contact 908-766-0037.