CodeRED: Emergency Calling System in Place for
Residents
Collin
Collin County residents can now register for a free, ultra high-speed
telephone notification system that can deliver pre-recorded messages to
home, business or cell phones in the event of a natural disaster or
emergency.
CodeRED gives county officials a way to get emergency messages out
to residents and businesses at a rate of 60,000 calls an hour, and can
target calls to specific geographic areas for emergencies such as evacuation
notices, flooding or a public health crisis.
The free service went online in August, and taps a variety of commercial
phone databases for its initial sources of contact information, according to
Kelley Stone, Collin County's Director of Homeland Security.
"Collin County residents also need to know that they can register
directly with us to make sure we have the right number to call them when it
counts the most," Stone said. "This is an incredibly effective notification
system, but it's only as good as the information available."
CodeRED's residential update link allows residents to plug in
their own information - including cell phones or unlisted numbers - that may
not be on file with commercial databases. Officials say the information
collected will remain completely private and will only be used to notify
residents in critical situations. To register online,
click here.
Required information includes first and last name, street address,
physical address, no P.O. boxes, city, state, zip code, and primary phone
number. Additional phone numbers can be entered, and residents can also have
message option to be delivered in English, Spanish or to a TDD/TTY-enable
phone for the hearing impaired. Because the CodeRED system is a
geographical-based notification system, street addresses are necessary to
select which phone numbers will receive emergency notification calls in a
crisis.
The system is paid for through a state homeland security grant. Collin
County contracted with Emergency Communications Network, Inc., of Ormond
Beach, Fl., CodeRED's service provider.
For more information, please contact Collin County's
Homeland Security at 972-548-5537 or (Metro) 972-424-1460 ext. 5537.
