Pittsfield Launches New Emergency Notification System

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield has partnered with CivicPlus to implement a new Mass Notification software. By partnering with CivicPlus, the city will be able to issue urgent notifications, emergency instructions, warnings, and routine communications to subscribed residents via phone call, email, text message, and voicemail to keep people safe and informed.
 
In a local emergency, community members subscribed to this Mass Notification system will benefit from immediate, actionable information and instructions sent via their preferred notification channel. Residents can sign up for alerts in a variety of languages including but not limited to: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese.
 
"Communicating with residents is an essential function of local government, especially in times of emergency," said Mayor Peter Marchetti. "This new system will provide both emergency and non-emergency alerts to keep residents up to date with relevant information."
 
"These notifications are essential in our emergency planning efforts," said Pittsfield Fire Chief Thomas Sammons. "I encourage everyone to sign up for these notifications so they can stay up to date with information related to inclement weather, evacuation notices, road closures and more."
 
The CivicPlus Mass Notification software replaces CodeRED that was previously used for similar notifications. Any member of the public that wants to receive emergency and/or non-emergency communications and alerts will be required to sign up with Mass Notifications.
 
To sign up for Mass Notifications, residents should visit https://www.pittsfieldma.gov/alert-signup and the select the alerts they want to receive. An account will need to be created to receive alerts.
 
A CivicsPlus how-to sign up video is available directly in the portal that will answer most questions about the sign-up process. However, any resident that requires additional help can visit or call:
 
• Berkshire Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Avenue (413) 499-9480
• Ralph J. Froio Senior Center, 330 North Street (413) 499-9346
• City Hall: Main phone number (413) 449-5600, press option #7
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Nine Injured in Washington Mountain Road Crash, Prompting Mass-Casualty Response

Staff ReportsiBerkshires
DALTON, Mass. — Local public safety personnel responded to a mass-casualty incident Sunday on Washington Mountain Road based on the number of patients although the injuries were reported to be "minor."
 
At approximately 12:52 p.m., the Fire Department was dispatched to the scene for a report of a multi-vehicle rollover accident. 
 
At the time of the initial response, three patients were reporting injuries. However, after further assessment, first responders determined that there were a total of nine — prompting a mass-casualty incident response, the Fire Department said in a Facebook post. 
 
A Jeep Cherokee driven by Anthony Stracuzzi, 27, was traveling north toward Dalton when it crashed into a Jeep Wrangler because of improper equipment. 
 
Stracuzzi will be cited for the crash, Police Chief Deanna Strout said. At this time, the crash is still under investigation.
 
Stracuzzi’s vehicle was carrying three adult passengers and a baby. The Jeep Wrangler was driven by a 34-year-old man and had two juvenile passengers.
 
No life threatening injuries were sustained, however some injuries were more serious than others, Strout said. 
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