Emergency Management
All of us hope our Township will never have to experience an emergency situation. It would be helpful for all of us to know how to get information if an emergency does happen. Here are some helpful services that everyone should know about and be able to use:
LOCAL
AGREM – 1670
The AGREM-1670 station was formally dedicated on November 14, 2015. The goal was to provide travelers and others in the AGREM Community a local source of information before, during, and after any type of natural disaster or man-made event. A low-power broadcast station based on AM radio was chosen because almost every car has an AM radio and portable, battery-powered or hand-cranked, AM/FM emergency radios are available and relatively inexpensive.
Avon Grove Regional Emergency Management (AGREM) has been a key partner for New London along with other municipalities in the Avon Grove School District for over 20 years.
Their website has links to a broad set of emergency preparedness materials on their Resources pages, along with other useful information. The website address is https://www.agrem.org.
COUNTY
Smart 911
The Smart911 platform provides tools that save critical time in an emergency, when mere seconds can make a big difference. The additional information helps the 9-1-1 call takers know exact locations and what assistance is needed, often at a time when the person calling 9-1-1 may not be able to communicate those details.
Safety profiles can be created at http://www.smart911.com. Residents can customize their profile and share any information they want the 9-1-1 call taker and response teams to have in the event of an emergency. The information is seen only when the resident dials 9-1-1 and it is automatically displayed to the 9-1-1 call taker, allowing him or her to send the right response team to the right location with the right information.
211 Phone System
Chester County has set up a “211” phone system which is provided by United Way. The system provides county specific information about assistance that is available for emergency food and housing, job training, health issues, elder support, and other programs. Just dial “211” or 866-964-7922. The system can also be accessed on line at www.211sepa.org.
Ready Chesco
Ready Chesco is a free mass notification system that notified registered users of important emergency alerts such as weather, road issues, and health alerts. You can register by visiting
Smoke and CO Detectors
All Smoke and CO detectors have a life span. Whenever you change batteries, you should check the date of manufacture. If 10 years or older – the detector must be replaced! The sensitivity is greatly reduced.
Consider installing combination smoke detectors that have dual fire detectors (ionization and photelectric). Consider “smart” detectors that “talk” to each other – if one senses a problem and goes off, the others go off at the same time. Some of these can also detect and alert if CO is too high.
Put detectors in every sleeping area and living spaces. Mount them properly to avoid “dead spaces” near corners and ceilings.
Change batteries twice a year, or consider the newer 10 year batteries. No matter what, test them regularly.
Detectors are only as good as your family pan to know what to do and where to meet OUTSIDE of your home when they go off.
Practice your exit plan with your children and anyone else that lives in your home. Remind everyone to get out and stay out once they get out. Do not NOT go back into al home that is on fire.
If your CO detector goes off, move to an area with fresh air immediately! CO is odorless and it can kill you if you do not react quickly.
We hope you will find this information helpful.
Dave Flad
Emergency Management Coordinator
Jim McLimans
Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator