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Office of Emergency Management

Ridgefield Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is a Town department responsible for major disaster/emergency planning, response, recovery and mitigation. It is staffed largely by volunteers from CERT, SART and ARES.

CERT - Community Emergency Response Team
CERT is a volunteer organization that serves the town in times of disaster, community emergencies and town-wide events such as the annual Main Street holiday lighting, the Fourth of July fireworks and the Ridgefield Triathlon. CERTs have supported the Office of Emergency Management during many major storms, hurricanes as well as during the pandemic. Throughout the COVID crises, CERTs ran the operations side of the vaccination clinic in support of RVNAhealth; delivered PPE so businesses could reopen; provided test kits to residents and businesses when none were available so that people could return to work, school, and activities; operated the Ridgefield Responds Rental Assistance Program; and provided daily pandemic updates. CERTs provide storm preparedness information, support the town’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC), operate a phone information center, collect information and provide accurate and timely updates to the community—and that’s just a few of the many ways CERTs support their community. Many CERTs become trained as a support for their family and neighbors.

The Ridgefield CERT team is trained to the standards established by the Citizen Corps program put forward by the Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency. The program includes 20 hours of training. If you are interested in learning more about how CERT can help you be better prepared, please contact: [email protected].

ARES - Amateur Radio Emergency Services

Emergency Preparedness
Emergency Preparedness starts in the home: 

  • Click HERE for a printable tri-fold with Emergency Preparedness information for you and your family. Print it out and keep it nearby for easy access.
  • Click HERE for the FEMA brochure: "Preparing Makes Sense. Get Ready Now."
  • Click HERE for the Ridgefield Emergency Preparedness Sheet
  • Click HERE for printable Prepare Your Pets for Disaster information
  • For more Information call 1-800-BE-READY

In the event of a public health emergency, Ridgefield’s Health Department will inform residents of necessary steps to stay healthy and safe. Coordinated by the Health Department and public health staff with support from the Ridgefield Visiting Nurses Association

  • Fully equipped with the supplies necessary to operate the clinic
  • Mobile Communication and a Health Alert Network System provide ability to communicate with partner response agencies
  • Educational material about the health emergency at hand will be provided

Volunteers are always needed. Nurses, physicians, pharmacists, mental health workers and non-medical volunteers are welcomed. To become a volunteer, contact the Health Department at (203) 431-2745.

Important Local Contact Information:

  • Ridgefield Police Department (Non Emergency): (203) 438-6531
  • Ridgefield Fire Department Dispatch: (203) 431-2724
  • Ridgefield Town Hall: (203) 431-2700
  • Danbury Hospital: (203) 739-7000
  • Ridgefield Health Department: (203) 431-2745

The Department of Homeland Security is working hard to strengthen our Nation's security. Whenever possible, we want to stop terrorist attacks before they happen. All Americans should begin a process of learning about potential threats so we are better prepared to react during an attack. While there is no way to predict what will happen, or what your personal circumstances will be, there are simple things you can do now to prepare yourself and your loved ones.

Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as assembling a supply kit and developing a family communications plan, are the same for both a natural or man-made emergency. However, as you will see by using the links below, there are important differences among potential terrorist threats that will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. With a little planning and common sense, you can be better prepared for the unexpected.

Read the information below and click on the links to the Ready America website. This information will help you make informed decisions in the event of a threat or disaster.

1. GET A KIT 

  • Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
  • Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • First Aid Kit
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust Mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Can opener for food (if kit contains canned food)
  • Local maps
  • Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

2. MAKE A PLAN

  • Identify an out-of town contact. It may be easier to make a long-distance phone call than to call across town, so an out-of-town contact may be in a better position to communicate among separated family members.
  • Be sure every member of your family knows the phone number and has a cell phone, coins, or a prepaid phone card to call the emergency contact. If you have a cell phone, program that person(s) as "ICE" (In Case of Emergency) in your phone. If you are in an accident, emergency personnel will often check your ICE listings in order to get a hold of someone you know. Make sure to tell your family and friends that you’ve listed them as emergency contacts.
  • Teach family members how to use text messaging (also knows as SMS or Short Message Service). Text messages can often get around network disruptions when a phone call might not be able to get through.
  • Subscribe to alert services. Many communities now have systems that will send instant text alerts or e-mails to let you know about bad weather, road closings, local emergencies, etc. Sign up by visiting your local Office of Emergency Management web site.

3. BE INFORMED
Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected, such as making an emergency supply kit and developing a family communications plan, are the same for both a natural or man-made emergency.

However, there are important differences among potential emergencies that will impact the decisions you make and the actions you take. Learn more about the potential emergencies that could happen where you live and the appropriate way to respond to them.

In addition, learn about the emergency plans that have been established in your area by your state and local government.Emergency preparedness is no longer the sole concern of earthquake prone Californians and those who live in the part of the country known as "Tornado Alley." For Americans, preparedness must now account for man-made disasters as well as natural ones. Knowing what to do during an emergency is an important part of being prepared and may make all the difference when seconds count.

Department of Emergency Management and Homeland Security
25 Sigourney Street – 6th FL 
Hartford, CT 06106-5042
(860) 256-0800 or (800) 397-8876
http://www.ct.gov/demhs

Emergency Websites:  

Emergency Preparedness Websites: