DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT & HOMELAND SECURITY

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Department of Emergency Management & Homeland Security

Suffield has instituted a new rapid emergency notification service called CodeRED®.  The new system will distribute emergency messages via telephone to targeted areas or the entire town at a rate of 1,000 calls per minute. CodeRED® employs a one-of-a-kind Internet mapping capability for geographic targeting of calls, coupled with a high speed telephone calling system capable of delivering customized pre-recorded emergency messages directly to homes and businesses, live individuals and answering machines. By registering, you’ll be added to the emergency call list.This service can be used in case of fires, chemical spills, evacuations, lock downs, downed power lines, lost individuals, natural disasters, abductions, water system problems, bomb threats, or other emergencies. Calls can be geographically targeted for localized messaging. If widespread, the entire community could be called within 20 to 30 minutes. The system also reports who did not get a call so that they may be contacted by other means.Suffield residents are welcome and encouraged to enter their contact information for home, business, and mobile phones so they may be contacted by the system in the event of an emergency.  It is important for city residents and for businesses customers to register, especially if they use unlisted numbers, cell phones, or VOIP. Those who do not register their address and phone number may not be notified with CodeRED in the case of an emergency. Registration is confidential, free, and easy. 

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Local Emergency Management Director: John Woods
DEMHS Area III Coordinator: Thomas Gavaghan

The Emergency Management Director (EMD) is appointed by, and serves at the pleasure of the First Selectman. He advises the First Selectman of all Emergency Management matters and related laws, rules, regulations and requirements of Title 28 and Public Act 87-535 of the Connecticut General Statutes and the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance (as amended). The EMD develops, organizes, directs and coordinates the Town’s Emergency Management Program with the goal of saving lives and protecting property by maintaining emergency operational capabilities that mitigate, prepare for, respond to and recover from any emergency or disaster.

The EMD is responsible for accomplishing all Emergency Management functions such as:

Emergency Organization, Planning and Management;
Direction and Control Warning; and
Population protection and training and exercises.

However, emergency responsibilities assigned to the Ambulance, Fire and Police Chiefs, remain the responsibilities of those department chiefs.

The EMD duties include formulation of emergency management policies and procedures related to the function of emergency services during emergencies; plans, organizes and coordinates the Emergency Management activities of those operating departments, agencies and offices of local government which are responsible for carrying out response operations in an emergency.

During emergencies, the EMD assumes the overall responsibility for the operation of the Emergency Operating Center located in Town Hall. The EMD is responsible for advising the First Selectman on local emergency operations including the execution of appropriate increased readiness measurers should an international crisis occur. The EMD also serves as the liaison between Town, state and federal agencies of Emergency Management matters.