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For Immediate Release
Redwood City’s “CodeRED” High-Speed Telephone Emergency Notification System Includes Easy Way to Update Contact Information
Redwood City, CA - November 15th , 2007
- Redwood City’s emergency high-speed telephone notification system, CodeRED, lets the City deliver pre-recorded emergency telephone notification messages to targeted areas or the entire City at a rate of up to 60,000 calls per hour. Its database of phone numbers is significant, but many people would benefit from including their cell phone, work phone (even if out of the area), or other alternate number. By doing so, they are sure to be called when a CodeRED alert is activated in the area of their home or business.
Members of the community are encouraged to go online to update their information or add an alternate phone number to ensure timely notification. During a CodeRED alert, both the primary and alternate number will be called. This service is available to all Redwood City addresses, as well as those outside the City limits in the North Fair Oaks, Emerald Hills, or other unincorporated areas directly adjacent to Redwood City.
The earthquake we experienced last month caused no significant damage – but it was a wake-up call to be prepared for disaster, and one way is to ensure that Redwood City’s CodeRED system is up to date with correct addresses and phone numbers. This system will be critical in the event of a major disaster such as an earthquake when quick notification of the community about emergency procedures or other emergency information is required.
The system was activated last April during a tenacious fire on Seaport Boulevard when several thousand phone calls were made in just minutes, to notify residents and businesses affected by the smoke. It was also used more recently to let bayside residents know that the Redwood Shores lagoon was not affected by the recent oil spill in San Francisco Bay.
The CodeRED system (www.coderedweb.com) is a geographical-based notification system, which means street addresses are required so that emergency operations staff can select which areas’ phone numbers will receive emergency notification calls. The system works for cell phones as long as they’re associated with a street address. People who have recently moved but kept the same listed or unlisted phone number will benefit by updating their address in the CodeRED database. Information in the CodeRED database remains completely private and will only be used to notify community members of critical emergency situations.
Visit Redwood City’s award-winning website at www.redwoodcity.org for information about the City and its services, the community, recreation programs, education, and local business. Take a look at the variety of City webcams at www.redwoodcity.org/webcam, and subscribe to Redwood City’s email newsletter and other City documents by visiting www.redwoodcity.org/egov.
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Contact:
Dave Pucci
Redwood City Fire Department
650-780-7400
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