CERT volunteers had a scavenger hunt of sorts last Saturday as they searched for signs placed around town representing downed wires, fallen trees and resident complaints.
The goal was to simulate the kinds of problems that have arisen in Ridgefield during past storms as they tried a new program called Crises Track, a program that will help prioritize and assess information in real time. Responders will send information back via the program which is monitored at the town’s Office of Emergency Operations, where it shows up on a map with photos and details of the damage.
“Today was all about seeing what it takes to get it up and running, how well it is working, and what are we getting out of it,” says Sean McEvoy, coordinator of the Ridgefield Emergency Operations center, who works closely with Ridgefield’s Emergency Operations Director, Dick Aarons. “The software is great, but you need the people to be willing and able to use it,” says First Selectman, Rudy Marconi. “Today we have people here volunteering their time to learn a new application. This will improve the level of service that we deliver to the people of Ridgefield during an emergency.”