As Ridgefield continues to move towards recovery from its COVID-19 pandemic response and with hurricane season just a few weeks away (June 1- November 30), the Town of Ridgefield Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Public Information Office (PIO) is looking for ways to improve communications with residents.
One way is through the Neighborhood Outreach program where residents who have volunteered to be the contact person for their neighborhood or group of streets (Captain) receives communications directly from the PIO to share. In the event of an emergency, neighborhoods choose their preferred methods of reaching their communities whether it be through email, private Facebook groups or multiple ways. If your neighborhood would like to organize and designate a contact person, please reach out to ridgefieldpio@gmail.com.
The following areas already have a volunteer contact person (Captain):
- Casagmo
- Fox Hill Phase I, II, III
- Wooster Heights/Settlers Lane
- Dowling/Ridgecrest/Stonecrest
- Nod Hill/Twin Ridge
- Westmoreland
- Mimosa
- Pleasantview Estates
- West Mountain Estates
- Twixt Hills
- Turner Hill
- Prospect Ridge
- Rainbow Lake
- Quail Ridge I
- Chestnut Hill
- Mamanasco Watershed Residents
- Pumping Station
- Ramapoo/Arrowhead
- Norrans Ridge
- Stonehenge Estates
- Knolls
- Ritch Drive/Fillmore Lane
- Manor/Lewis/Shadow
- Presidentials
- Rochambeau/Lafayette/Washington
- Hobby Drive/Circle Drive
Be aware that in the event that when communications through normal channels break down (loss of power and/or Internet) Ridgefield places message boards when possible in central locations within town. Currently, these locations are: Town Hall, the Ridgebury Fire Station, Parks and Recreation Center, Valero Gas station at the corner of Route 35 and 7, Anconas Wines and Liquors in Branchville and Branchville train station). Individual neighborhoods have also selected a designated location for their postings.
CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks. In Ridgefield, CERTs support our first responders, the Office of Emergency Management and the Town of Ridgefield. In the past they have been activated for such emergencies as Hurricane Irene, Snow-tober, Hurricane Sandy and any of the micro and macro bursts the town has experienced.
Ridgefield CERTs were activated in early March to help with the COVID-19 pandemic and have participated in Ridgefield Responds, community-wide messaging, distribution of PPE and numerous other behind the scenes responsibilities. Ridgefield is unique in that CERTs are also part of the Office of Emergency Management policy team and play a key role in the town’s emergency operations.