CodeRED to alert citizens of emergencies

By Tom Fink
Progress Staff Writer

By TOM FINK

Staff Writer

A new web database will enable Claremore’s emergency officials to keep the public better informed with regards to power outages, missing children, and similar minor emergencies.

“CodeRED” is a web-based system that will allow the Claremore Police Department to notify city residents by phone in cases of current or impending emergency or crisis.

“The CodeRED system will aid us in keeping the public informed whenever an emergency situation arises,” said Mickey Perry, Claremore Chief of Police.

Primary uses for the CodeRED system include search and rescue (such as missing children or missing Alzheimer’s patients), environmental/national disasters (such as fires or tornadoes), man-made disasters (such as threats of terrorism or chemical spills), and public works (such as utility outages and street closings), which Chief Perry expected would be the most common usage of the system in Claremore.

“Whenever there’s a power outage, people call the police department to report it, ask when the power will be back on, that kind of thing,” Chief Perry said. “Getting all those calls at once tends to tie up the non-emergency police lines and perhaps prevent us from receiving call that pertain to police matters.

“With the CodeRED system, the calls will automatically be made to persons in the database to let them know that we’re aware of the situation and are working on it,” Perry said. “Several other communities have been pleased with the service, and it’s something we’ve been looking at for a while now.”

Although Perry said that the numbers used in the CodeRED database can come from persons using City utility services, credit bureau information, once the system is closer to being put into place, the police station will solicit persons wanting to be included on the “call list” — such as businesses or persons with cellular phones — to call and register their numbers to be included.

Perry added that those not wanting to be included on the database may request the removal of their names from the call list.

“We’re hoping to get the new system installed and in working within the next 30 to 90 days, so we’re anticipating it to be in operation by mid-summer,” Perry said.

The CodeRED system will cost the City $14,000 for the first year of service and $7,000 each year thereafter — a cost that Perry feels is worth it.

“I’m confident that this will be a good thing for the City and its residents,” Perry said. “The CodeRED system can send emergency-related messages to 1,600 homes a minute — up to 60,000 in an hour — there’s no way we could do that without CodeRED.”