CodeRed alerts county residents of emergencies

By KYLIE CRAIG  | Posted: Wednesday, May 31, 2006; Updated: 2:38 PM on Wednesday, May 31, 2006

County and city officials have launched a new automated phone service to give St. Johns County residents quick notice of natural disasters, missing children and other major public safety emergencies.

CodeRed, a high-speed telephone service, sends pre-recorded emergency telephone messages throughout the county or to specific areas at a rate of 60,000 calls an hour, according to a statement from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.

"If we have to reach out to a core group of people immediately ... there has to be a system out there to do that," Sgt. Chuck Mulligan said. This is that system.

CodeRed's database contains all local telephone numbers, unless they are unlisted or are cell phone numbers.

However, Mulligan said no one should assume his information is included.

He said anyone with a new or recent change of address or phone number should log onto www.sjso.org and follow the link to the CodeRed Residential and Business Data Collection page.

There, residents can register home and cell phone numbers with an address into the system. He encourages businesses to add their information as well.

St. Johns County residents without internet access should call 810-6690, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to give their information.

Mulligan said CodeRed messages will be sent for issues considered public safety needs. He said this can range from a missing child and a missing Alzheimer's patient to a major natural disaster.

The program allows officials to direct calls to as small or as large an area as needed.

"Generally, it's going to be more specific areas," Mulligan said.

The service, which is web-based, will be used by trained officials from The Sheriff's Office, Emergency Management, St. Johns County Fire Rescue, St. Augustine Police and the St. Augustine Beach Police Department.