ZELIENOPLE — Before the borough can test and fully implement its new emergency communications system, it needs one last thing: contact information.

The borough has begun collecting telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of borough residents, business owners and property owners for the communication system, which the police department will maintain.

The system, an auto-dialer similar to ones used by telemarketing companies, will contact residents and property owners in emergency situations.

Borough council voted in February 2005 to buy the system after some residents complained about the borough's response to the flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ivan in September 2004.

Borough manager Donald Pepe said the system, which cost $1,800, is functional, but cannot be put into use until the contact information is collected.

He said the borough has tested the system with mostly positive results, especially with the e-mail notification.

The telephone side, however, was a bit spotty, with success depending on the type of answering machine used by the resident, he said.

Some telephones will pick up while others do not allow for the completion of the call, he said.

But Pepe said the borough plans to retest the system.

"When we get (the contact information), we'll test it again to see how functional it is," Pepe said.

He said the borough has started to notify property owners and businesses to submit contact information.

To receive announcements via e-mail, residents should send a message to zelienoplepd@zoominternet.net.

Residents also may call the police department's administrative office to register cell phones, work numbers, e-mail addresses and non-resident numbers at 724-452-3003 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. weekdays.

Borough residents and business owners who are customers of the borough's electric system should call the borough office at 724-452-6610 to register or change primary residential telephone numbers.