What is the CT Alert Emergency Notification System?

On September 1, 2009, Connecticut became the first state in the nation to have a statewide emergency notification system. CT Alert ENS allows state and local officials to help protect lives and property by providing critical information to residents during emergencies, including dangerous situations.  

CT Alert ENS is managed by the State Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection.

What can the CT Alert Emergency Notification System do?

CT Alert ENS has two main components:

• The system allows authorized users to quickly send out an emergency alert to residents in any affected geographic area within the state.  Depending on the emergency, the alert may be sent to an entire town, part of a town, a group of towns, or a large area of the state.
• The system also allows public safety agencies to send messages to emergency response personnel.

Where is the CT Alert Emergency Notification System available?

The system is available for use by state and local 911 Emergency Communications Centers, and some state agencies.  At this time, several 911 Emergency Communications Centers have chosen not to use the CT Alert ENS System for local emergency messages, but instead will continue to rely on their existing emergency notification systems.  Even if you live in one of the several towns served by a 911 Emergency Communications Center that is not currently using the CT Alert ENS for local emergency messages, you may still receive alerts sent by the State of Connecticut through CT Alert ENS, or from a neighboring 911 Emergency Communications Center that sends out an emergency alert that includes your geographic area.   

What is the CT Alert ENS Citizen Sign-Up Page?

CT Alert ENS uses the state’s Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1) database for location-based notifications to the public for life-threatening emergencies.  But the E9-1-1 database includes only traditional wire-line telephone numbers in the state (the “land line” phone you may have in your home). If you want the system to send alerts to other communication devices that you use, then you must provide your contact information by logging in to the CT Alert ENS Citizen “Sign-Up” Database Web Page that you can reach by using the link provided below.

How can I sign up for the CT Alert Emergency Notification System?

The CT Alert ENS Citizen Sign-up Page allows you to add other means of communication to the CT Alert ENS, in addition to your current home phone—also known as a “land line”—if you have one.  You can add mobile phones, Voice over IP landlines, wireless personal digital assistants, such as BlackBerry ®, e-mail, text messaging, and/or instant messaging to be included to receive alerts from CT Alert ENS. You are responsible for any costs associated with your receipt of any emergency notification. 

You can also tell the system in what order you want to receive the emergency notification, by specifying your contact path order for multiple communication devices.  The system will cycle through your communication devices until the message is delivered and or confirmed on one of them.

The CT Alert ENS Citizen Sign-Up Page will also allow you to list up to three additional locations in the state for which you want to receive alerts.  These locations may include, for example, the towns where other family members live, or where children attend school. 

How do I update my information on the CT Alert ENS Citizen Sign-Up Page?

If you are already registered on the CT Alert ENS, you can update your information by returning to the CT Alert ENS Citizen Sign-Up Page.