Getting the word out about PRISM 911
The city of Quinte West garners Ontario-wide attention for its award-winning PRISM 911 service
This is so great. The city of Quinte West should be proud.
I’ve been following this PRISM 911 service (protective response interactive services management 911) since I first heard about it in the CJBQ newsroom.
PRISM 911 is an award-winning service invented by a team in the city’s planning department – and the city has just sold the software to its first customer – Huron County.
The city’s manager of planning and information technology, Ed Woods, pioneered the programme with an invaluable team, including the local fire and police departments. He told me the idea was to save lives – and that generating revenue for the city was secondary. I could feel him beaming with pride through the telephone.
PRISM 911 notified the public in any given area via telephone of public emergencies, like gas leaks or alerts of missing children.
The main glitch in the system is that many people who live in the city don’t know what it’s about.
I asked Ed about that, because last time the system was used – in February, for a boil water advisory – I remember calls coming to the newsroom and the local police stations, asking what was going on.
Ed says people are gradually learning – and I daresay after this weekend’s news coverage, including Ed’s big interview Friday morning on CBC radio – the public will be much better informed.
Ed says PRISM 911 was modelled after an American system using technology invented by Microsoft, among others. He told me when his team went to Toronto to show it off to Microsoft people there, they were blown away.
Ed and his team will be in Ottawa tomorrow (MON) showing off the system to big wigs with the government. I bet they’ll be blown away, too.
Ed Woods was born and raised in Napanee. He has worked with with the municipality in Quinte West for 20 years.
PS I wonder what potential could be harvested from a social media campaign, gang?
Great post! I’ll subscribe right now wth my feedreader software!