Helpful or intrusive: Emergency responder database presented to commissioners, questions arise about victim security

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent

Josh Queen, standing, shows a video explaining Community Connect, while Chairman Kevin Gordon and Commissioner Deb Hardin watch. Chuck Thompson | Shelby Independent

Imagine EMS or the fire department arriving to your home for an emergency, they know your security gate code, alarm system code to your house, how many people reside in the home, dogs, cats and even where hazardous materials such as gasoline or spray paint canisters are stored.

As intrusive into your privacy as that might sound, it doesn't mean it will be. Cleveland County Emergency Management believes it will beneficial to help with life-saving measures during a fire or medical emergency. However, there is still the concern this could be a violation of safety, as one can only wonder who still has this information long after the emergency is over?

At the Cleveland County Board of Commissioners’ meeting Tuesday night, Fire Marshal/Emergency Management Director Perry David, along with Josh Queen leading the presentation, discussed how a system application called ‘Community Connect’ can assist in better response times and life-saving measures when entering a residence.

“The citizens who add their information and if a call goes out the responders will be able to see this information before we get there and what issues we may encounter, such as gates, is there a pool – things like that, information we may need,” he explained. “It’s by no means a replacement for 911, but it's a heads-up for us to let us know what kind of situations we might be running into on the fire side of it.” Queen strongly suggested it is something that would be beneficial for all fire departments in the county to have.

Community Connect claims to be encrypted software just as strong as a bank, protecting people’s information from hackers and others that may want to browse people’s private information about their homes.

According to the presentation, Community Connect for EMS is a secure, online platform that allows residents to voluntarily share critical information with local first responders to improve emergency response. It helps EMS and fire departments by providing details about a household, such as the location of hazards, the presence of pets, or any specific needs (like mobility issues) for occupants, enabling a more prepared and efficient response.

Residents create a free account to provide information about their property, people, and pets. The platform is free, and information is used exclusively for emergency situations. By providing details that only residents know, the platform bridges a data gap for first responders, helping them know what to expect before arriving on scene.

The basis for the pitch Tuesday night concluded this information can help emergency personnel respond more quickly and effectively, potentially saving lives and protecting property.

But how secure can it be? Can a nefarious individual use that information to their advantage of the private residential information at a later date?

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Queen claims they cannot.

Cleveland County Commissioner Chairman Kevin Gordon asked the question on everyone’s mind, “Anybody responding to that address will get that information?” Gordon inquired. “Door codes or gate codes could be kept by anyone on the scene?”

Queen responded that it would be left up to departments to whether just officers or anyone could access that information.

“Once the incident is over, will the information be cleared out – or is there someone who is going to still have that information on that gate code six months from now if they don’t delete that data from their phone?”

“We’re still working on those policies,” Queen replied. “But you can have that to where each fire department, where after a certain amount of time that would be cleared out automatically.”

Director David stated to the commissioners they hope to start rolling this out to the public sometime in January. The database is voluntary, no one is required to sign up for the service at this time.

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Chuck Thompson is a reporter and columnist for The Shelby Independent.