A heads-up to members and neighbors:

Friday, May 15, 9AM - 4PM, there will be a testing of the new County- Wide Alert Notification System, which is designed to alert residents in the event of an emergency.

The plan is for a series of audible tones in 12 Hudson County areas--emitted via 31 alert notification units that have been mounted atop poles and roofs--1 distinct tone for each geographic area, w/ some locations hearing a tone more than once because some parts of, i.e., Secaucus may depend on units located in JC and North Bergen.

The system does allow for live voice instructions following the initial audible tone alerts; verbal instructions are especially important along commercial corridors & in transportation hubs. Plus, in the future, the plan is for residents to be able to tune to an AM channel, as well as receive info via broadcast.

In the months to come there will be ongoing silent testing of this ANS, but next Fri is slated for the audible tone. You need do nothing. This is supposed to be part of planned preparedness testing of a county-wide system, which is a system that can be activated in the event of a national hazard or man-made disaster.

For more information, contact Gerry Drasheff at 201-319-3871.