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Staunton: Fire & Rescue platform allows community to share information with first responders

Rebecca Barnabi
police fire rescue on scene
(© Daniel Avram – stock.adobe.com)

City of Staunton Fire and Rescue introduces Staunton Community Connect, a cutting-edge community risk reduction platform.

Community Connect allows community members to create a profile and securely share critical, life-saving information with first responders, streamlining emergency response and enhancing public safety.

The platform offers both residential and business health-and-safety profiles, empowering residents and business owners to share critical information about their properties with Staunton Fire and Rescue.

Profiles can include specifics to help first responders called to an emergency at your address:

People: best contact, who lives/works there, mobility issues
Property: fire sprinklers, elevator, designated meeting place, fuel storage, etc.
Pets: Types and number of pets with the option to upload a photo
Users are also able to request smoke detectors through the profiles they create.

Community Connect equips first responders with real-time, life-saving information, enabling faster, more effective emergency response and better service to our most vulnerable residents,” Staunton Fire Chief Jason Ball said.

To ensure user safety, Community Connect uses bank-level security, including SHA-256 Bit Encryption, to protect personal information. Data is used solely for emergency response and planning, ensuring privacy while enhancing operational efficiency.

All residents and business owners are encouraged to create profiles and contribute to a safer community, which will enhance the ability to protect and serve effectively.

More information is available online, where profiles may be created.

Rebecca Barnabi

Rebecca Barnabi

Rebecca J. Barnabi is the national editor of Augusta Free Press. A graduate of the University of Mary Washington, she began her journalism career at The Fredericksburg Free-Lance Star. In 2013, she was awarded first place for feature writing in the Maryland, Delaware, District of Columbia Awards Program, and was honored by the Virginia School Boards Association’s 2019 Media Honor Roll Program for her coverage of Waynesboro Schools. Her background in newspapers includes writing about features, local government, education and the arts.