West Columbia Community Connect

Together, Building a Safer Community, Through Prevention, Preparedness & Response

Create or Update Your Profile Today
Completion of this form in no way guarantees that the registered individual will receive immediate or preferential treatment in a disaster.
Individuals should maintain a personal emergency plan.
Residents
Business Owners

WHAT IS COMMUNITY CONNECT?

A Quick Message from
the West Columbia Fire Department

As your Fire Chief, my top priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. To do this most effectively, the West Columbia Fire Department is proud to introduce First Due Community Connect—a secure online platform that allows both residents and businesses to share critical information that can help us better protect you in an emergency.

Why Community Connect Matters

When an emergency occurs, every second counts. Having accurate information about your household or business ahead of time helps our responders arrive better prepared.

Through Community Connect, you can provide:

For Residents: medical needs, mobility challenges, pets, emergency contacts, and property details.

For Businesses: contact persons, hazardous materials on site, floor layouts, sprinkler systems, access instructions, and after-hours information.

This information, shared voluntarily and kept secure, gives our firefighters and EMS personnel the tools they need to respond more quickly, safely, and effectively.

Benefits to You

Faster, more informed emergency response

Increased safety for your family, employees, and customers

Peace of mind knowing responders have the information they need before arriving

Stronger community resilience

How to Get Started

Create your secure profile (home or business)

Provide as much detail as possible to help us respond to your address

Update your information as things change

A Shared Responsibility

Your fire department is committed to protecting our city, but we can’t do it alone. By partnering with us through Community Connect, you play an active role in building a safer, stronger West Columbia—for both our residents and our businesses.

Please take a few moments today to sign up. If you need assistance, our team is ready to help you complete your profile. Call us at [phone number] or stop by the fire station.

Together, with your participation, we can continue to make West Columbia a safe and thriving place to live, work, and do business.”

Sincerely,

-
-
Marquis R. Solomon, MA, SPHR, NREMT Fire Chief City of West Columbia

How does it work?

The Number One

Create an account

Sign in for free and get started doing your part. It just takes your email, phone number and address.

The Number Two

Enter the info that matters most

Enter valuable information that can help us assist more effectively during an emergency.

The Number 3

Help your Fire Department when seconds count

That’s it. Just keep us updated when things change over time so we can always be prepared.

The Number 3

Help your EMS when seconds count

That’s it. Just keep us updated when things change overtime so we can always be prepared.

A diagram explaining how Community Connect works.

What kinds of information can I provide?

Any information you provide through Community Connect is completely voluntary and based on what you are comfortable sharing. We have made it easy for you to know what may be important by organizing your secure portal into buckets of information you can enter.

A house.

Your Property

Understanding critical information such as your residence type, whether or not you have fire sprinklers, or designated family meeting places, improves our ability to respond and make decisions during an emergency.

A family.

Your People

Let us know who is best to contact in case of an emergency. Your contacts can help us with everything from access, to how to deal with potential hazards or locate occupants. Getting in touch helps us better communicate at the time when it’s needed most.

A man in a wheelchair.

Your Needs

If you or members of your family have mobility or other types of functional needs that may require additional assistance, letting us know means we can plan accordingly and respond more quickly to those needs.

A dog and a cat. They are friends.

Your Pets

Your pets are part of the family too. We want to make sure that we are able to evacuate pets and best handle them as best we can during an incident. Tell us about any type of pet at your residence – even take a photo so we can spot them easily!

What kinds of information can I provide?

For Households
For Businesses

Any information you provide through Community Connect is completely voluntary and based on what you are comfortable sharing. We have made it easy for you to know what may be important by organizing your secure portal into buckets of information you can enter.

A house.

Your Property

Understanding critical information such as your residence type, whether or not you have fire sprinklers, or designated family meeting places, improves our ability to respond and make decisions during an emergency.

A family.

Your People

Let us know who is best to contact in case of an emergency. Your contacts can help us with everything from access, to how to deal with potential hazards or locate occupants. Getting in touch helps us better communicate at the time when it’s needed most.

A man in a wheelchair.

Your Needs

If you or members of your family have mobility or other types of functional needs that may require additional assistance, letting us know means we can plan accordingly and respond more quickly to those needs.

A dog and a cat. They are friends.

Your Pets

Your pets are part of the family too. We want to make sure that we are able to evacuate pets and best handle them as best we can during an incident. Tell us about any type of pet at your residence – even take a photo so we can spot them easily!

Enable your business, school, age-care facility or other public location First Responders with critical information, valuable emergency plans and more - available at a moment's notice in the event of an incident. Stay aware with notifications from First Responders through text messages in the event they are ever dispatched to your property.

A house.

Your Plans

Upload images and documents outlining your plans in case of different types of emergencies. Let your First Responders know what procedures you, your staff, and your guests will be following in case of an emergency.

A family.

Your People

If you or people at your facility have mobility or other types of functional needs that may require additional assistance, letting us know means we can plan accordingly and respond more quickly and effectively.

A man in a wheelchair.

Your Property

Keep us aware of the most important access and utility details, your fire control systems, if there are hazardous materials on-site and other key pieces of critical building information.

A dog and a cat. They are friends.

Your Contact Info

Enter your contact details - we'll send you a text message to inform you and/ or the members of your team in the event that we are ever called to your property during an emergency.

A lit match.A lit match.

Burn Permitting Policy

In addition to Community Connect enabling your First Responders to better protect your property and family’s well-being, you can also handle all Burn Permitting within the Community Connect portal. Access, manage, and seek approval for burns within the same account you use to manage your property and its occupants.

HOW DO WE SELF-REPORT COVID-19 RELATED INFO IN COMMUNITY  CONNECT?

The Number One

Log-in or create a Community Connect Account

Sign-in or create an account with Community Connect to access the new COVID-19 related information panels.

Enter COVID Related Information

Enter valuable information that can help your First Responders keep track of COVID-19 and high-risk occupant related information.

The number three.

That's it!

Give yourself a pat on the back! You just did your part in helping First Responders be better prepared for this battle against COVID-19.

A photograph showing the Community Connect for COVID-19 portal.

WHO should self-report?

Everyone should self-report. Even if you are asymptomatic or tested negative, it is important to let First Responders know your situation. If you are high-risk or have any access and functional needs, please also self-report so that emergency services can be better prepared to help during this crisis.

A family.

Everyone

It is important for everyone to report regardless of age, health or suspicion of infection. Do your part and help your First Responders!

A friendly elderly man.

High-Risk

People who are considered high-risk from an age and health perspective or have access and functional needs should report.

A bio-hazard symbol.

COVID-19

Anyone who has tested positive, showing symptoms or has been in contact with anyone who has tested positive or has symptoms.

How secure is my data and how is it used?

Data that you provide Community Connect is secure and is used only for the purpose of better serving you during emergency situations. Your information is never used for any other purpose. All logins are password protected with bank level encryption and security. If you’re comfortable logging in to your online bank you’ll be comfortable logging in to Community Connect.

Community Connect is

Safe & Secure

COMMUNITY CONNECT IN THE NEWS

COMMUNITY CONNECT 
IN THE NEWS

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Learn more about
Community Connect

Learn More About Community Connect

FAQ
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West Columbia Fire Department
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Create or Update Your Community Connect Profile:

Residents
Business Owners

West Columbia Community Connect

Together, Building a Safer Community, Through Prevention, Preparedness & Response

Create your profile:
Residents
Business Owners

What is

Community Connect?

As your Fire Chief, my top priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. To do this most effectively, the West Columbia Fire Department is proud to introduce First Due Community Connect—a secure online platform that allows both residents and businesses to share critical information that can help us better protect you in an emergency.

Why Community Connect Matters

When an emergency occurs, every second counts. Having accurate information about your household or business ahead of time helps our responders arrive better prepared.

Through Community Connect, you can provide:

For Residents: medical needs, mobility challenges, pets, emergency contacts, and property details.

For Businesses: contact persons, hazardous materials on site, floor layouts, sprinkler systems, access instructions, and after-hours information.

This information, shared voluntarily and kept secure, gives our firefighters and EMS personnel the tools they need to respond more quickly, safely, and effectively.

Benefits to You

Faster, more informed emergency response

Increased safety for your family, employees, and customers

Peace of mind knowing responders have the information they need before arriving

Stronger community resilience

How to Get Started

Create your secure profile (home or business)

Provide as much detail as possible to help us respond to your address

Update your information as things change

A Shared Responsibility

Your fire department is committed to protecting our city, but we can’t do it alone. By partnering with us through Community Connect, you play an active role in building a safer, stronger West Columbia—for both our residents and our businesses.

Please take a few moments today to sign up. If you need assistance, our team is ready to help you complete your profile. Call us at [phone number] or stop by the fire station.

Together, with your participation, we can continue to make West Columbia a safe and thriving place to live, work, and do business.”

Sincerely,

What is

Community Connect?

As your Fire Chief, my top priority is ensuring the safety and well-being of our community. To do this most effectively, the West Columbia Fire Department is proud to introduce First Due Community Connect—a secure online platform that allows both residents and businesses to share critical information that can help us better protect you in an emergency.

Why Community Connect Matters

When an emergency occurs, every second counts. Having accurate information about your household or business ahead of time helps our responders arrive better prepared.

Through Community Connect, you can provide:

For Residents: medical needs, mobility challenges, pets, emergency contacts, and property details.

For Businesses: contact persons, hazardous materials on site, floor layouts, sprinkler systems, access instructions, and after-hours information.

This information, shared voluntarily and kept secure, gives our firefighters and EMS personnel the tools they need to respond more quickly, safely, and effectively.

Benefits to You

Faster, more informed emergency response

Increased safety for your family, employees, and customers

Peace of mind knowing responders have the information they need before arriving

Stronger community resilience

How to Get Started

Create your secure profile (home or business)

Provide as much detail as possible to help us respond to your address

Update your information as things change

A Shared Responsibility

Your fire department is committed to protecting our city, but we can’t do it alone. By partnering with us through Community Connect, you play an active role in building a safer, stronger West Columbia—for both our residents and our businesses.

Please take a few moments today to sign up. If you need assistance, our team is ready to help you complete your profile. Call us at [phone number] or stop by the fire station.

Together, with your participation, we can continue to make West Columbia a safe and thriving place to live, work, and do business.”

Sincerely,

How does it work?

1. Create an account

Sign in for free and get started doing your part. It just takes your email, phone number and address.

2. Enter the info that matters most

Enter valuable information that can help us assist more effectively during an emergency.

3. Help your Fire Department when seconds count

That’s it. Just keep us updated when things change overtime so we can always be prepared.

What kinds of information can I provide?

Any information you provide through Community Connect is completely voluntary and based on what you are comfortable sharing. We have made it easy for you to know what may be important by organizing your secure portal into buckets of information you can enter.

Residents
Business Owner
Our ability to make decisions improves when we know your residence type and if you have fire sprinklers or a family meeting place.
Communication is vital during an emergency. Identify an emergency contact who can provide information about access to your property and how to deal with hazards and locate occupants.
If you or your family members have mobility or other functional needs that require additional assistance, letting us know means we can plan accordingly and respond more quickly to those needs.
Your pets are part of the family. We want to ensure we can handle and evacuate pets during an incident. Enter details about your pet and upload a picture of your furry family member so we can identify them during an incident.
Keep us aware of the most important access and utility details, your fire control systems, if there are hazardous materials on-site and other key pieces of critical building information.
If you or people at your facility have mobility or other types of functional needs that may require additional assistance, letting us know means we can plan accordingly and respond more quickly and effectively.
Upload images and documents outlining your plans in case of different types of emergencies. Let your First Responders know what procedures you, your staff, and your guests will be following in case of an emergency.
Enter your contact details - we'll send you a text message to inform you and/ or the members of your team in the event that we are ever called to your property during an emergency.

What services are offered by [[Agency_Name}} in Community Connect?

What services are offered by

West Columbia Community Connect

?

Residents
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Business Owner
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Residents
Business Owner
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How does my local Fire & EMS Department use my information to better serve me?

Your information is crucial when we respond to an emergency. We can respond more effectively by accessing your valuable data to meet your needs and ensure your safety.

No True Single Platform Icon
Information at the time of response

When responding to emergency incidents, the dire & EMS department utilizes the information you provide in Community Connect to better serve you. This valuable information allows us to understand your situation better and provide more targeted assistance.

No True Single Platform Icon
Communication Following Dispatch to your property

The fire & EMS department will promptly notify you via email or text if an incident is reported at your address. Stay informed and receive essential updates regarding the incident response and any necessary actions that may be required.

No True Single Platform Icon
Emergency Alert System

Stay connected and well-informed through our emergency alert service. These notifications enable the department to reach the entire community, informing residents about emergency evacuations, severe weather alerts, and other critical updates that may impact your safety. Receive the information you need to stay prepared and protected.

How secure is my data and how is it used?

Community Connect is Safe & Secure
The data you provide Community Connect is secure and only used to serve you during emergencies better. Your information is never used for any other purpose. All logins are password protected with bank-level encryption and security. If you're comfortable logging in to your online bank, you'll be comfortable logging in to Community Connect.
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Frequently Ask Questions

Who has access to the information that I provide?

Arrow icon

Your emergency services agency that hosts the Community Connect program will securely be able to access your Community Connect data. Data stored in Community Connect is only accessed during an emergency at your address or a large scale disaster.

Community Connect is secured by "bank-level encryption".
What does that mean?

Arrow icon

Community Connect is secured by "bank-level encryption". This means we are using 256-bit encryption that is only available to first Responders logged into the same application that they use to view calls being received from dispatch and inspection data of properties in your community.

What happens if I move?

Arrow icon

Community Connect provides you with the ability to edit your address.  Community Connect will also automatically send you periodic emails to encourage you to update your profile or account for any changes, including a change in an address or household members.

I have a home and I'm a business owner. How can I make a Community Connect profile for both?

Arrow icon

Each Community Connect profile is tied to both a specific address and a specific email address. Please use your personal email for your residential Community Connect profile and a work email to create your business Community Connect profile.

Can I make a Community Connect profile for a loved one who cannot do it themselves?

Arrow icon

Community Connect is designed to be fully accessible and can be configured on any internet-connected device. In the event that you do need to create a Community Connect profile for someone who cannot do so themselves,  there are options that may be available:

  • Create a Community Connect account using their email and physical address for them.
  • Contact your Community Connect administrator with the local fire department to create an account for your loved one.

How can I help spread the word and get more people in my Community Signed up?

Arrow icon

Reach out to your local Public Safety agency and discuss how you can help spread the word and how you can get involved in helping to protect your loved ones and neighbors through the program.

It appears someone already created a Community Connect account for my address, what should I do?

Arrow icon

Community Connect limits one profile to each specific Address. This still allows each unit to have an account at apartment buildings or condo complexes. If residents receive an error message that there is already a Community Connect account for this address, take the following steps.

  • Ask your family, roommates, or co-habitants if they've already created a profile.
  • If none of your co-habitants appear to have created the Community Connect profile, please reach out to team@communityconnect.io and we will work with you to resolve the situation.

What is First Due / Community Connect?

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First Due is a leading software partner to some of North America's largest Emergency Service organizations. We're passionate about ensuring public safety agencies can take a giant leap forward in how information is used to plan for incidents, increase survivability, and derisk communities. By delivering a platform for collaboration and sharing, we are bridging the deadly information gap end-to-end, always keeping in mind the way First Responders and Emergency Managers work today.

Community Connect/

West Columbia Community Connect

Create your profile:
Residents
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