According to Newtown Health District Director Donna Culbert, she and a number of town officials never really take a break from honing their readiness skills in many ways throughout the year.newtown-ct.gov (the link to register for CodeRED is along the lower left side of the page) or calling 203-270-4370 for assistance.on the town website (also on the lower left side, second red button) as well.on the town website or if you don't have Internet access, call Maureen Will at Newtown Emergency Communications, 203-270-4296, for assistance."newtown-ct.gov, click on Departments, then Emergency Management or call 203-270-4222.

The district participated in a regional mass dispensing drill at the middle school in Torrington on Thursday, April 14, along with regional partners from local public health and emergency management in Bethel, Brookfield, Danbury, New Fairfield, New Milford, Ridgefield, Redding, Waterbury, Pomperaug Health District, Goshen, and Torrington's Charlotte Hungerford Hospital.

The exercise was a test of region's ability to distribute "medical countermeasures," in this case antibiotics which, in reality, were labeled containers of candy Tic Tacs. It is important to keep current with procedures necessary to respond to a public health emergency and to practice them, participants noted.

Newtown's Emergency Management Team - Director Bill Halstead and Deputy Directors Maureen Will, Rob Sibley, and Ms Culbert - attended the Emergency Management Symposium, co-sponsored by Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), the state's Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security, and Connecticut   Department of Public Health.

It was the 11th annual event and highlights the most current resources, best practices, workshops, and networking with other public safety and responding agencies.

"After-action analysis of virtually every exercise and real-world event has identified communication as an area needing improvement or expansion," Ms Culbert noted.

As the team works on exercising and improving its methods of communications for the purposes of preparedness as well as response, Ms Will, also director of Newtown's Emergency Communications Center, drives home a critical message to all residents: "Please, sign up to receive communication from the Town of Newtown."

"Residents who register with the free CodeRed service can receive CodeRED alerts that are provided by the town and can include cellphones so you can receive notices when or if you are out of town," Ms Culbert said.

CodeRed registration can be done by visiting

Residents can also subscribe to "News and Announcements" from the town from the first selectmen's office. Sign up for that service

"Finally, register with Smart911 so a specific profile can be created for family members, pets, home details, etc, and the information is secure," Ms Culbert said. "You can do that at the link

The town works to minimize effects of disasters through comprehensive mitigation, planning, training and response, but preparedness is everyone's responsibility.

"Residents need to do their part, as they have the best understanding of their own property, personal physical, emotional and medical circumstances," Ms Culbert said.

For any questions or need for assistance, visit