Online system collecting household, biz data to ensure efficient emergency response in Greenfield

Through the new Community Connect platform, Greenfield Fire Chief Robert Strahan says residents and businesses can voluntarily contribute “all kinds of information” that would help emergency personnel respond efficiently during a crisis.

Through the new Community Connect platform, Greenfield Fire Chief Robert Strahan says residents and businesses can voluntarily contribute “all kinds of information” that would help emergency personnel respond efficiently during a crisis. STAFF PHOTO/PAUL FRANZ

SCREENSHOT

SCREENSHOT

By MARY BYRNE

Staff Writer

Published: 10-15-2023 2:37 PM

GREENFIELD — A new online system is offering residents and businesses a platform to input important site-specific data that can help emergency personnel respond to their properties more efficiently during a crisis.

Community Connect, which residents can voluntarily sign up for, comes as part of the Fire Department’s new software program that is used for recordkeeping, including incident reports, maintenance tracking and preplans.

“Residents could put all kinds of information,” said Fire Chief Robert Strahan. “This program allows people to go to their address and put in whatever special requests they have.”

Examples of information residents and businesses may input through Community Connect include locations of sprinklers or hazardous materials, as well as whether an individual within the household uses oxygen or has special needs. People could also indicate if the property has solar panels and pets.

“This really gives control to the residents on the data and keeping it up to date,” he said.

All information provided is confidential and will be encrypted, Strahan noted.

Residents can sign up for free at communityconnect.io/info/ma-greenfield.

Funded through the operating budget, the consolidation of multiple needs of the department into one software demonstrates a more cost-effective use of resources, according to Strahan.

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“We encourage people to log in and provide information they feel is appropriate that they would like the Fire Department to know in the event of an emergency,” he said.

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.