It is not too frequently used, but the Wilton Urgent Notification Email Service is there when it’s needed.
This month marks the 10th anniversary of the service, which was proposed in late 2004 by then First Selectman Paul Hannah. He asked the Wilton Kiwanis Club to run the email group in order to provide a simple way to communicate urgent notices about major threats to the town. It was agreed the email service would also be used to notify subscribers about unexpected occurrences — such as road closures, closures due to snowstorms, etc. — so it would be used infrequently, but regularly enough to assure subscribers the process was working.
The service started slowly in 2005, but came into its own during some major storms with substantial power outages. Emails proved to be one of the better ways to advise a diverse group of people, including those who work in the town and those who travel.
Today, there are 1,550 email addresses on the list, and several messages are sent each month. Only designated town officials may send messages, so subscribers can be assured they are genuine. These messages are headed [Wilton CT Notification] so they can be easily identified.
To join the group, go to the Wilton Kiwanis website, wiltonkiwanis. org, and click on the link for the Urgent Email List. That will give simple instructions about signing up. This is two-step process where first a request is submitted, and then a message is sent back to confirm the request is correct. The second step is simply to reply to the message, thus assuring that only valid requests are implemented.