Howell Introduces New Emergency Alert System

Just ahead of the one year anniversary of Hurricane Sandy and with winter just around the corner Howell Township has a new system to alert residents about emergency situations and other vital news.

The program is called Everbridge and is the latest in a series of alert systems the township has utilized to reach people across the town as quickly as possible. “The notification system will allow you to stay informed by receiving both emergency and community alerts, and you choose the ways you want to receive them,” an email from the council said.

Alerts can now be received on home phones, cell phones, work phones and by text message and emails. The system will be used to “notify residents about emergencies, imminent health or safety threats and for community alerts,” the email said. That can include things like severe weather, power outages, community programs and other emergency situations. “We want our residents to be informed about all that is going on in Howell Township.”

The township has also created a new “Do-Not-Knock” registry that allows residents to sign up in an effort to keep solicitors from coming to their doors. The form, which can be found here, said the purpose of the program is “to provide an option to Township residents to protect their privacy and personal property by including their residence on the registry and thereby curtailing unwanted solicitation at their place of residence.

When residents fill out the form and submit it to the township their address will be kept on a registry which will sort the township alphabetically by street with the street name and residence number of people who have signed up. No names or other personal information will be listed. Residents will also get a “No Knock” sticker to put on their property and the request will stay on the registry until a written change is submitted to the Municipal Clerk.