CodeRED: City to add new emergency alert system

By KEVIN BOWEN
(Created: Tuesday, November 28, 2006)

It's not everyday that an emergency knocks on the door, but it may soon be ringing on your phone.

The Colony has contracted with Emergency Communications Network Inc., of Ormond Beach, Fla., to provide the city with its "CodeRED" high-speed telephone emergency notification services, according to a statement from The Colony Fire Department.

The CodeRED system gives city officials the ability to deliver pre-recorded emergency telephone notification/information messages to targeted areas or the entire city.

When an emergency happens, the Internet-based system will allow emergency personnel to make phone calls to either selected neighborhoods or the whole city, said Mike Nolen, The Colony Fire Chief.

The contract is part of a $20,000 grant for two years of service, Nolen said.

"It will send a pre-recorded message to that area or [the whole] city," Nolen said.

An example of the type of situation was a high-pressure gas-line leak that occurred along State Highway 121 several months ago. In that situation, a phone call could have alerted residents as to what measures they needed to take.

"Dispatch got a lot of calls on that one, and they could have used it for that," Nolen said.

Another possibility would be a hazardous chemical spill during an accident on SH 121.

The system claims it can make up to 30,000 phone calls an hour, Nolen said, although the chief said he wasn't sure if a figure that high is realistic, given the infrastructure needs. Still, he is confident that the system will prove effective, as it has for some neighboring communities.

"It's the quickest thing out there that I know of," Nolen said.

The system is only as effective as the database of numbers that it has. The Colony Police Department has set up a link at its Web Site, www.thecolonypd.org, to the company's system. All businesses and residents with unlisted phone numbers, changed phone numbers, or who have moved in the last year, are being asked to provide contact information to the database through this site.

"CodeRED gives those who want to be included an easy and secure method for doing so," Nolen said. "The information will only be used for emergency notification purposes."

Those without access may contact the police department and provide the information by phone.

Questions should be directed to Lise Rizzo at The Colony Police Department at 972-625-1887.