The City of Covington began its Community Connect program this week, which aims to build out solid data infrastructure for the city’s fire and EMS departments.
Covington Community Connect serves as a data bank that will provide additional information on residents — if they choose to share it — so that firefighters and other first responders can better prepare for the specific conditions at particular properties. Such information includes things like the number of pets at the household or if the occupants use wheel chairs or have some other disability that first responders ought to know about, among other things.
The system was already in use for businesses, but this new initiative extends the service to residents.
Covington residents who sign up for the program can voluntarily leave information with a free account. The following information would be most helpful, according to a city announcement:
- Occupants: The number of people living in a house.
- Contact info: How to get hold of you in an emergency.
- Health challenges: Whether anyone has a health challenge or condition that could cause issues or require special attention, such as someone who has a physical disability, is deaf or has autism.
- Language barriers: Whether anyone doesn’t speak English.
- Animals: The number of pets.
- Sleeping quarters: The location of bedrooms.
- Hazardous materials: The storage of fuel and/or explosives, and the presence of such features as solar panels. Businesses can list chemicals on site.
- Safety equipment: Whether a house or building has smoke detectors and/or a sprinkler system. (Note that when you sign up, you can request a smoke detector if you need one and don’t have the means to acquire one.)
- Utilities: Location of gas and water shutoffs.
- Setup: Whether your house has a basement, pool or live-in attic.
Covington residents interested in setting up a free account can do so at communityconnect.io/info/ky-covington. You can also scan the QR code in the image at the top of the page.