Auburn considers new system for emergency communication
2005-10-06
by Mike Archbold
Journal Reporter
AUBURN -- Auburn may be going CodeRed soon.
CodeRed is the name of a telephone-based notification system the city
is considering buying that will allow the city to contact all city
residents by telephone in the event of a disaster. Mayor Pete Lewis said
the system can make up to 60,000 telephone calls in an hour and alert
residents to an upcoming emergency or give residents instructions on what
to do.
Though it could be used for purposes other than emergencies, Lewis
said the City Council wants it for use in emergencies only.
An emergency might be a windstorm or snowstorm that knocks out power
to large sections of the city, he said. ``In past emergencies it's been
very difficult to get messages out to citizens,'' he added.
City emergency management officials can get updated information from
Puget Sound Energy on how long power might be out and relay it to
residents.
The notification system dovetails with the city emergency radio system
at 1640 AM, which is on the air but is still being tweaked.
The CodeRed system allows the city to notify only certain areas or
neighborhoods if the emergency is confined to one portion of the city.
In the event of a major disaster, Lewis said the city could be cut off
from emergency help for as much as 72 hours.
``What we need to do more than food and water is we need people to check
on the person next door, the children across the street and the old man
who never talks to anyone,'' the mayor said. CodeRed will allow the city
to get that kind of practical information out to people.
Code Red with 20,000 minutes a month will cost $10,000 to install and
set up. Renewal is $5,000 per year.
Those with unlisted numbers will be able to get their number on the
system through a secure Internet link.
``I think it's money well spent,'' Lewis said. ``It's one of those
situations where you hope you don't have to use it.''
Mike Archbold can be reached at mike.archbold@kingcountyjournal.com or
at 253-872-6647.
|
