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Last Updated: May 9th, 2008 |
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Immanent flood? Chemical release? Boil water notice? How will you be notified? In addition to the conventional methods of communicating to the public via the media, the City of Hopewell has contracted with Emergency Communications Network, Inc., of Ormond Beach, Florida, for its "CodeRED" high-speed telephone emergency notification services. The CodeRED system gives city officials the ability to deliver pre-recorded emergency telephone notification/information messages to targeted areas or the entire city at a rate of up to 60,000 calls per hour. Communicating with the public in the face of a disaster is important, and the city has chosen CodeRED as a primary way of doing that.
A system such as this however, is only as good as the telephone database supporting it. If your phone number is not in the database, you will not be called. This is why Code Red offers individuals and businesses the ability to add their own phone numbers directly to the system's telephone database. This can be done by clicking on the link provided for the CodeRED telephone database. (link opens in new window)
Required information includes first and last name, street address (physical address, no P.O. boxes), city, state, zip code, and primary phone number, additional phone numbers (optional). The reason we need your street address is because the CodeRED system is a geographical based notification system, which means street addresses are needed to select which phone numbers will receive emergency notification calls in any given situation. The system works with cell phones too, but we must have a street address to associate that number with. People who have recently moved but kept the same listed or unlisted phone number also need to change their address in the database.
Don’t automatically assume your phone number is included. All businesses should register, as well as all individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number or address within the last year, and who use a cellular phone as their primary home phone.
CodeRED gives those who want to be included in this program an easy and secure method for doing so. The information will only be used for emergency notification purposes, and will not be shared with any outside parties.
If you would rather not add your information over the internet, or know someone who does not have access to the internet, we can add your information for you. Simply call the City’s Automated Citizen Information system (ACIS) at 541-2401 and enter code 911. After a short introduction you will be asked to hold and answer the appropriate questions. The information you provide will then be added to the Code RED system within five business days. It should be noted that although CodeRED is an important tool for the City’s use in the event of an emergency, there is, of course, no guarantee that notification will reach any particular resident upon activation. Any questions regarding CodRED should be directed to the Hopewell Emergency Management Office, at 804-541-2298
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