The Village of Cardington, in partnership with Morrow County 911, recently initiated a local Emergency Notification System (ENS) to provide telephone messages to citizens during emergency situations, including weather emergencies.
What is an Emergency Notification System?
Emergency Notification Systems, or ENS, are systems to provide mass notification to residents in the event of an emergency. Morrow County EMS has chosen the CodeRED system.
What should I do if I receive a CodeRED message?
If you receive a CodeRED message, listen carefully. The message will be brief and not repeated. Follow the instructions given. You may be directed to a commercial TV or radio station for further information. Do not hang up until you have heard the entire message. You may miss important information. Do not call 9-1-1 for further information unless directed to do so. You will only tie up the emergency lines.
What does a CodeRED message sound like?
It is a true recorded message and not computer generated. The message will always begin with a statement that "This is the Fire Department of, Police Department of, or Village Administration of." They will then state if the call is an emergency or non-emergency situation. The text of the message and further instructions will follow. The messages will generally be brief and if further instructions are necessary, you may be directed to turn to a commercial radio or TV station.
How does CodeRED work?
CodeRED is a high-speed telephone notification system that can dial up to 60,000 phones an hour and deliver a recorded message. The alerting agencies can use a digital map online to define an area that requires a message, and CodeRED will automatically target all of the phone numbers in that defined area for the emergency message. When the emergency agency initiates the notification, the recorded message is blasted to all the phones in the defined area in a very brief period. Busy numbers will be redialed a preset number of times. CodeRED also has the ability to store predefined lists of names and phone numbers that can be activated for specific notifications. The CodeRED system is voice activated, when a call recipient receives a CodeRED message they should answer the phone as they normally would. The system will automatically detect the difference between a live person and an answering device. Although CodeRED can leave a message on a telephone answering instrument, you may not receive the message because of noise levels on the recorder and the length of the prerecorded message.
How does CodeRED determine what phone numbers to dial?
Morrow County 911, and alerting agencies, have the authority to use confidential 9-1-1 telephone numbers for emergency ENS calls. In addition, if you believe your phone is unlisted or otherwise unreachable via traditional means, you may sign up to receive alerts by going to this website. If you have caller ID, CodeRED will display the number 999-911-9999.
What if I do not receive a message?
If a person utilizes cell phones, voice over IP or any other type of service not associated with normal land line telephone service, their phone will not be in the database. If a business has multiple telephone numbers associated with their business they may not be contacted. A privacy manager service will defeat the system.
What are some of the uses for CodeRED?
The primary use of CodeRED is to notify village residents of an immediate emergency. It can be used to define an area for evacuation or "shelter in place" notifications for incidents such as a hazardous material spill or a major gas leak. It can also be used to direct residents to a specific TV or Radio station for further important details and instructions. It may alert residents to shelters during weather or power emergencies. CodeRED can also be used to alert a neighborhood to watch for a lost child, an impaired individual who has walked away, or dangerous individuals that may be in the area.
Who pays for CodeRED?
Morrow County 911 has agreed to be the contracting agency, but the cost for Code Red is being shared by villages and townships within Morrow County.
Is CodeRED the only means of notification?
No! No Emergency Notification System is 100% reliable. CodeRED cannot reach everyone and is only a part of the notification process. It gives emergency managers another tool to alert the public. Residents are still encouraged to listen to warnings issued through the TV and radio media and NOAA weather radios.
Is CodeRED appropriate for all emergency notifications?
No. CodeRED is only one of many tools and has limitations. It does take some time to set up a CodeRED notification and make the calls. Threats in progress, such as a tornado that was just spotted, would not give emergency managers enough time to make a CodeRED notification. Emergencies that occur in a very brief time frame are not good candidates for a CodeRED type of notification. Other options may be more appropriate. Be sure to monitor your Radios and TVs during storms, they provide the most accurate and up to date information available.
CodeRED Notification
* Listen Carefully* Follow Instructions
* Don't hang up until you hear the whole message
* DO NOT call 9-1-1 unless instructed
Any questions about CodeRED and its operation can be directed to Morrow County 911 at 419.946.7727