Borough institutes CodeRED safety technology

The City and Borough of Wrangell has contracted with Emergency Communications Network, LLC to utilize its CodeRED high-speed notification system, which will allow local officials to quickly deliver messages to targeted areas or the entire borough.

For those that want to use the system, Wrangell Police Department Chief Doug McCloskey said that such systems are only as good as the telephone number database supporting them.

“If your phone number is not in the database, you will not be called,” he said. “One of the reasons the CodeRED system was selected is it gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own phone numbers directly into the system’s database, which is an extremely important feature.”

According to McCloskey, no one should automatically assume his or her phone number is included. All individuals and businesses are encouraged to follow the link to the “CodeRED Community Notification Enrollment” page at the Borough’s website (http://www.wrangell.com/police/codered-community-emergency-notification-enrollment.)

Those without internet access can call City Hall at 874-2381, Monday through Friday, to supply their information over the phone. Required information includes first and last name, street address, city, state, zip code, and primary phone number, additional phone numbers can be entered as well. PO Boxes are not allowed in the address information.

According to WPD, businesses should register, as well as all individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number or address within the past year, and those who use a cellular phone or VoIP phone as their primary number.

CodeRED allows geographically based delivery, which means street addresses are required to ensure emergency notification calls are received by the proper individuals in a given situation. The system works for cell phones too, but it needs to have an associated street address to provide relevant messages.    

The system allows local government officials to communicate time-sensitive, personalized messages via voice, email and text messaging.

 

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