Parish Encourages Residents To Update Contact Info For Hurricane Season

Aug. 12, 2010 - PRLog -- St. Charles Parish is holding a community-wide data drive, encouraging residents to register their cell phones, private phone lines and e-mail addresses into the Blackboard Connect mass notification service’s secure database.

The Blackboard Connect service provides St. Charles Parish officials the ability to notify, update and provide critical direction to residents in an efficient, timely manner, should a need arise.

“We rely on the Blackboard Connect mass notification system to quickly communicate urgent information to residents regarding severe weather, chemical spills and evacuation notices,” said V.J. St. Pierre Jr., St. Charles Parish president.

Publicly available primary residential and business phones in St. Charles Parish have been automatically included in the system. However, to ensure that the parish has the most up-to-date contact information, residents should visit the St. Charles Parish website (http://stcharlesparish-la.gov) and click on the “Emergency Alert System” link to provide their complete information (up to three phone numbers and two e-mail addresses) and indicate if they have a TTY/TDD. Those without Internet access are encouraged to use the computers at the local library or call (985) 783-5050 to provide their up-to-date contact information. Residents with call blocking services should add (888) 727-9362 to their approved number list to ensure they receive notifications from the parish.

“With Blackboard Connect, officials can record and send messages to all constituents from any location, under the most extreme circumstances,” said Ed Miller, President of Blackboard Connect. “Even if they are evacuated or the power is knocked out, community leaders can rely on the Blackboard Connect service to reach families across multiple communications channels. We are proud to provide a service that our clients can count on, especially when they need it most.”

Blackboard Connect requires no additional hardware; it can be used from any computer with Internet access or telephone, ensuring that officials can send vital messages from wherever they are located.

Parish administrators can target each message to an unlimited number of groups – everything from mobilizing volunteers to coordinating efforts with necessary agencies or emergency personnel. Authorized users can also use a map on the Blackboard Connect system to contact specific geographical locations, sending messages only to the residents within select neighborhoods when needed.

For more information on the Blackboard Connect platform please visit http://www.blackboard.com/Alert-Notification/Connect-Plat... or contact the company at (818) 808-1789.

Additional Information about St. Charles Parish
The mission of St. Charles Parish government is to provide high quality, efficient services to sustain and enhance the quality of life for all residents of St. Charles Parish.

Additional Information about the Blackboard Connect Platform
The Blackboard Connect platform allows officials to send an unlimited number of messages, requires no additional hardware, and can be used from any computer with Internet access or telephone. This ensures that administrators can send vital messages from wherever they are located—even if they are evacuated. Additionally, officials receive detailed reports on contacts that did not receive a message, enabling them to follow up through alternative means as needed.

*Blackboard Connect Inc. does not sell, lease, share, or rent personally identifiable information (names, addresses, phone numbers, etc.) to any companies or persons outside of Blackboard or its service providers.