With hurricane season rapidly approaching, Baytown officials are urging residents to connect with the City - using Connect-CTY. A telephone and email based notification system used to rapidly disseminate time-sensitive information, Connect-CTY can send thousands of messages in a matter of minutes; messages that warn of weather related hazards, shelter in place notices, or any other event that would affect the health and safety of Baytown’s citizens.
The City of Baytown’s Connect-CTY system receives its contact information from Verizon, however unlisted or recently changed numbers are not included. Residents who have an unlisted number, use a cell phone, have recently moved or changed telephone numbers, or who receive telephone service through a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) service such as Vonage, must register to be included in the call list.
Signing up for notification can be done here on the City’s website by clicking the Connect-CTY button to the right, for access to a page to register, review, and edit their contact information. Citizens without internet access may sign up by calling 281-420 5311. In addition to land-lines, the system will also accept cell phone and VoIP numbers, and email addresses.
“Connect-CTY is a fantastic tool for getting important information out to our citizens,” said Emergency Management Coordinator Bill Vola. “With one short process, we can issue notification for a specific neighborhood or area, all the way up to a city-wide alert, which our residents receive in a timely and effective manner.”
The caller-ID number for calls generated from the Connect-CTY service will show a local 281 number and all messages will begin with the same standard announcement: “This is the City of Baytown with an important message for you.” The message content will follow this standard introduction. If a citizen listens to the call and doesn’t understand it or misses a portion, pressing the “star button” (*) at the end of the message will prompt the message to repeat.
Calls which do not initially go through, due to busy signals or no-answer situations are repeated several times. If the phone is answered by an answering machine, a message is left on the device. Calls which do not go through after several attempts are retried after the initial call out has been completed.
Residents are reminded NOT to call 9-1-1 for information. 9-1-1 is ONLY for reporting an emergency or calling for emergency help. For information, Baytown residents can call (281) 420-5311. If a disaster event threatens Baytown, that hotline will become a phone bank with information and can direct calls to other City of Baytown staff.