The Chester County Emergency Services Department has released new information to local municipalities regarding the new Special Needs Registry
By P.J. D’Annunzio, Staff Writer, Kennetttimes.com
WEST CHESTER — Bucks,Chester and Montgomery Counties have jointly developed a new emergency service, the Special Needs Registry, in order to better accommodate handicapped and elder residents in their respective communities during the event of an emergency.
This registry will allow citizens with special needs—and their associates—an opportunity to provide information to emergency response agencies, so emergency responders can better plan to serve them in a disaster or other emergencies.
The plan was unveiled regionally at Kennett Township on Monday night.
“People in need will be placed on a list for the county so that in case there’s an emergency, a county representative will come to there house to help them get to a safe location, or if there’s a state of emergency, snow storm or ice storm, etc. they’ll take them to wherever the emergency operations center is,” Kennett Township Manager Lisa Moore said.
“So we have posted this online to let everyone know to e-mail us we can place them on the registry, they can also e-mail the county themselves,” she continued. “If any one knows of anybody that does need special assistance in an emergency, we ask that you follow up on that.”
“The other thing that county wanted us to announce was that when people call 911 during emergencies or when there is a power outage or a very busy time they may get a recording that no one is available at the moment; they have sent out a letter stating that you are not to hang up if you get a recording,” Supervisor Bob Hammaker said.
“They said that if you hang up when you get a recording they still record that phone call and they still have to call you back and it delays the process.”
Chester County reminds citizens that “the first line of defense against the effects of a disaster is personal preparedness. During an emergency, the government and other agencies may not be able to meet your needs. It is important for all citizens to make their own emergency plans and prepare for their own care and safety in an emergency.”
To sign up for the registry, visit http://www.chesco.org/des/site/default.asp
