31 - Dudley businesses urged to do it with EASE

Archived news release from 2008

Dudley Sector Inspector Chris Dowen with Ian Skidmore, head of contingency and disaster management at Dudley Council.

Businesses and traders in Dudley can now sign up to a free text messaging alert system to help them react to emergency situations in the town.

 

As part of its commitment to warning and informing the public, Dudley Council is encouraging businesses based in Dudley town centre to sign up to a new Evacuation Alert System for Emergencies (EASE).

 

By signing up to the free system, business owners would receive a text message to inform them of an evacuation or any alternative advice in the event of an emergency.

 

The EASE system, which is supported by West Midlands Police, was given a warm welcome by businesses in Stourbridge and Brierley Hill before being introduced in Dudley town centre.

 

Information about this innovative service is now being sent out to businesses in Dudley. In the unlikely event of an emergency, the emergency services would alert the council’s Contingency and Disaster Management Team who would then send a text message through to the phone number of each business.

 

“The new EASE service has been welcomed by businesses in Stourbridge and Brierley Hill and I’m sure will be just as successful in Dudley. By letting us know a contact phone number we can give them appropriate information in an emergency situation.”

 

The EASE system will assist emergency services at the time of an incident as it could help an evacuation take place more effectively and therefore help safeguard the public.

 

“By signing up to this free system traders and businesses can not only keep themselves informed of incidents in the town, they will also assist the emergency services. We welcome anything which helps clear an emergency scene to enable us to carry out our job more effectively and efficiently.”

 

The system is already up and running in Stourbridge town centre and Brierley Hill and will be made available to businesses in Halesowen next month.