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Politics & Government

Honeywell Emergency System Approved in Hopatcong

Collapse of old system during Hurricane Sandy leads borough to make change.

Hopatcong will switch its emergency communications service to one operated by Honeywell Corporation.

The Borough Council approved a resolution Wednesday accepting a three-year contract.

Mayor Sylvia Petillo said the borough’s former emergency communication system collapsed during Hurricane Sandy, which left officials scrambling to find ways to get vital information to residents.

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The Hopatcong schools emergency communication system operated throughout the storm, Petillo said, but was only able to connect with residents with students in schools.

She said the Honeywell system has built-in redundancy, as it broadcasts via the Internet from a site in Georgia and another in Minnesota.

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Borough administrator Robert Elia said the Honeywell system was selected following a review by all local police and emergency officials.

Elia said Jefferson uses the Honeywell system and is very pleased.

The Honeywell system will be able to handle 100,000 phone calls and 150,000 text messages in 15 minutes, Elia said.

The contract will cost $11,950 in the first year, with a $3,000 start-up cost, and $8,950 a year in contract years two and three, Elia said. After that, he said the Honeywell representative said the borough could expect annual 5 percent increases.

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