07/18/06

New service can alert residents in emergencies

NORTH PORT -- In the past, the city struggled to alert residents with the latest information regarding emergency situations. This has recently changed.

Now, North Port emergency management officials can personally alert residents with up-to-date news almost as quickly as they themselves learn of the situation.

The new technology the city purchased is called CodeRED. An emergency message or critical public alert is recorded by a city official and delivered by telephone to residents.

The system is capable of sending messages at speeds up to 60,000 calls an hour.

The need for this new, high-speed communication system became obvious during the hurricane seasons of 2004 and 2005, according to Stan Frank, public information manager.

The unit is capable of calling every household in North Port within minutes, he said. The system can also send a message to a small, precisely targeted area covering just a few blocks or streets. This will assist the city in disseminating neighborhood-specific information in the case of smaller events.

For example, if you happen to live in an area for which a "boil water" advisory has been issued due to a water-main break, CodeRED will call only residents impacted by this important health advisory.

Wildfire, missing person alerts, road closings, traffic alerts, law enforcement emergencies and hazardous material spills are examples of other kinds of situations for which the new system may be used.

Because telephone lines are self-powered, this high-tech system can also serve as a vital communications lifeline in case power goes out, Frank said. The city recommends residents keep one corded phone plugged in to receive critical situation updates, because a cordless phone won't work without power. Even if power is still on, CodeRED will probably be able to reach residents with important, North Port-specific information faster than local TV and radio stations can put it on the air, he said.

North Port emergency managers such as North Port Fire Chief Bill Taaffe strongly encourage residents to sign up for CodeRED. Residents can do this on the city's Web site, www.cityofnorthport.com, that has a direct link to a "Residential Data Collection Form" which can be filled out and submitted online. (To go to the form, just click on the CodeRED logo under "Quick Links" on the left side of the home page.) The information will immediately update the system's telephone number database.

If residents move or change telephone numbers, they should update their contact information. Any new information will automatically replace old details. The database will be updated regularly.

Residents without Internet access can fill out a paper form available at any city government office. Residents may also call the city's main switchboard telephone number, 941-429-7000, for assistance.

If you do not want to receive calls, please notify the city, preferably in writing. However, since CodeRED is designed to make certain residents receive fast, accurate information directly from city officials whose job is to help protect citizens, city officials strongly recommend signing up for the service.

Commissioners approved the 15-month contract with Emergency Communications Network/ CodeRED in June. CodeRED is entirely paid for by the city, and costs less than 40 cents per resident per year.

For more information, call Stan Frank at 941-429-7165.

Staff Report