Livingston residents who haven't registered for the township's emergency alert system have a clear to-do list from officials: sign up before September.
Township Manager Barry Lewis Jr. and Mayor Shawn Klein are pushing residents to register for the Rave Alert Emergency Notification System RaveAlert ahead of National Preparedness Month. The Township Council proclaimed September as National Preparedness Month at its Tuesday, Aug. 11 meeting.
"You don't want to wait for the lights to go out or the water to rise before you start thinking about what to do," Klein said.
Rave Alert sends emergency notifications directly from the township to registered residents and businesses. Those already signed up should log in and verify their contact information is current, officials said.
The township's Office of Emergency Management and Health Department also maintain a registry of homebound residents who may need help evacuating during an emergency. Caregivers can register someone at livingstonnj.org/Homebound.
Disability-specific kit guidance
Officials are advising caregivers of people with disabilities to assemble emergency kits that go beyond the basics. The township recommends including:
- Extra batteries for medical or assistive devices
- At least a three-day supply of medication, with a cooler and ice packs if refrigeration is required
- Photographs of settings on medical devices in case they need resetting after a power outage
- A written list of doctors, pharmacists and family contacts
- Medical alert tags or bracelets with the person's full name, a contact number and allergy information
Smart911 offers another layer
Separately, Livingston offers Smart911, a free service announced by the township in April that lets residents create a Safety Profile at smart911.com. That profile automatically displays to 911 call takers when a resident dials for help.
Police Chief Gary Marshuetz said in April that Smart911 "saves critical time in an emergency and has proven to save lives nationwide," noting that a Safety Profile helps responders "know exactly where we are going and who we are looking for" at a scene.
How to register
- Rave Alert: livingstonnj.org/RaveAlert
- Homebound registry: livingstonnj.org/Homebound
- Smart911: smart911.com or the Smart911 app (Apple Store and Google Play)
- School district updates: Parents of school-aged children can sign up through the Livingston school district
- General preparedness info: livingstonnj.org/BePrepared
- National resources: ready.gov/September or 1-800-237-3239
The township posts official emergency updates on Facebook and Instagram at "Livingston Township, NJ" and on X at @Livingston_NJ.
