Hayes, Chase counties obtain high-speed phone alert system

Hayes County has partnered with Chase County to contract with Emergency Communications Network Inc., of Ormond Beach, Fla., for its "CodeRED" high-speed telephone emergency notification services.

The CodeRED system gives county officials the ability to deliver pre-recorded emergency telephone notification/information messages to targeted areas or the entire county at a rate of up to 60,000 calls per hour.

During major emergencies, all subscribers will receive notifications about the situation and any action they are recommended to take. During more minor events, such as road damage in part of the county, only affected subscribers will be notified.

CodeRed Weather Warning is an additional part of the service. CodeRed Weather will contact each person who signs up when there is a Severe Weather Warning in the area of your personal home or business.

Char Hamilton, Hayes County, and Paul Kunnemann Chase County, both emergency managers, cautioned that such systems are only as good as the telephone database supporting them.

"If your phone number is not in the database, you will not be called for weather warnings."

Hamilton and Kunnemann both urge all Hayes and Chase individuals and businesses to log onto Hayes County's website, www.hayescounty.ne.gov or Chase County's Web site http://www.co.chase.ne.us/ and follow the link to the "CodeRED Residential and Business Data Collection" page.

Those without Internet access may call Char Hamilton (308) 286-3388 for Hayes County. In Chase County, call Sheriff's office 882-4748 or Road Dept 882-7520 to give their information over the phone to get registered.

Required information includes first and last name, physical address (no P.O. boxes) city, state, zip code, and primary phone number, additional phone numbers (optional).

Kunnemann explained that the "CodeRED system is a geographical based notification system, which means physical addresses are needed to select which phone numbers will receive emergency notification calls in any given situation. The system works fine for cell phones as well, but it has to be tied to a physical address."

Hamilton said "CodeRED gives those who want to be included an easy and secure method for doing so. The information will only be used for emergency notification purposes."

Questions should be directed to the Hayes County EM, Char Hamilton (308) 286-3388 or Chase County EM Paul Kunnemann (308) 882-5304.