Memo - Global ConnectMemo
To: Mayor Gene Maxwell and Hopkins City Council
From: Dale Specken Fire Chief
CC: City Manager Mike Morrison
Date: 11/08/2011
Re: Global Connect
The City of Hopkins has been looking at different ways to connect with the citizens of Hopkins in case
of an emergency or in case of a disaster to give them information on evacuation, street closures and
any other type of information that may need to be given to our residents.
Captain Hanlin and I have done research on different types of reverse 911 systems and found a
company by the name of Global Connect that we are recommending going with to get information out
to our citizens.
• Global Connect's voice messaging system allows us to reach thousands of contacts with personalized
messages within minutes. The leading provider of web -based voice messaging, Global Connect gives
us unsurpassed calling speed and capacity without any capital outlay.
A fully interactive system uses Voice over Internet Protocol to deliver prerecorded voice messages to
designated phone numbers at unmatched speed and capacity. Call recipients can use the interactive
keypad to connect to live agents, leave voice messages or select other keys for polling and surveys.
In an emergency situation, we can reach first responders, other staff members, volunteers, and
residents, quickly and easily. With unsurpassed speed and capacity, Global Connect allows us to reach
thousands of contacts each minute.
This system will let us contact people when there is a snow emergency, disasters needing evacuations,
police events, missing people and water main breaks.
This is a system that uses the current 911 data base to contact residents but also has a feature to add
as many cell phones to the system that you want at no extra cost.
The cost for the system is $4,500.00 per year that will be taken out Police, Fire, and Public Works
budgets.
I will be at the Nov 15th council meeting to give a short presentation and answer any questions you may
have on this program.
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