The Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission General Manager Tom Kissner points to a chart during a presentation at a meeting on February 12, 2015 in Chatham. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)The Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission General Manager Tom Kissner points to a chart during a presentation at a meeting on February 12, 2015 in Chatham. (Photo by Ricardo Veneza)
Chatham

Improving Emergency Communication Protocol

Following the Ridgetown boil water advisory, Chatham-Kent officials are reviewing how they communicate emergencies to the public.

Chatham-Kent Public Utilities Commission GM Tom Kissner says they're happy with how door-to-door notices were performed, but want to use digital forms of communication in the future.

Kissner adds social media will be used in tandem with word of mouth in the event of an emergency. "Certainly for updates, Twitter and Facebook are a benefit. They are possibly farther reaching than going door-to-door."

After officials decided a boil water advisory was necessary around 11:30pm February 24, hand-delivered notices were sent to residents around 5am. The Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit advised the media about the situation nearly ten hours later.

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