| CodeRed |
The City of Hutchinson and Reno County have contracted with Emergency Communications Network, Inc., of Ormond Beach, Florida, for its "CodeRED" high-speed telephone emergency notification services. The CodeRED system gives city and 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. Emergency officials caution 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". The CodeRED system not only offers faster calling rates and improved message delivery, it gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own phone numbers directly to the system's telephone database. Emergency management officials emphasize that this is an extremely important feature.This system will be used primarily for emergencies. Examples of times when the CodeRED system could be utilized: Drinking water contamination, Utility outage, Evacuation notice & route, Missing person, Fires or Floods, Bomb threat, Hostage situation, Chemical spill or Gas leak, and other emergency incidents where rapid and accurate notification is essential for life safety. To ensure no one is omitted, officials urge all individuals and businesses to log onto the City of Hutchinson’s website, www.hutchgov.com, or the Reno County website, www.renogov.org/sheriff, and follow the link to the "CodeRED Residential and Business Data Collection" page. Those without Internet access may sign up by providing in writing your request to Reno County Sheriff's Department CodeRED 210 W. 1st Avenue, Hutchinson, Kansas 67501. 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). No one should automatically assume his or her 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. 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 fine for cell phones too, but we have to have a street address. People who have recently moved but kept the same listed or unlisted phone number also need to change their address in the database.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 Reno County Sheriff's Department (620) 694-2735. Emergency management officials discourage individuals from opting out of this program. However we realize that some may not wish to be contacted in this manner. If you wish to opt out of the CodeRed emergency notification system, you may do so by logging onto the City of Hutchinson’s website, www.hutchgov.com, or the Reno County website, www.renogov.org/sheriff, and follow the link to the "CodeRED Residential and Business Opt Out" page. Those without Internet access my opt out by providing in writing your request to Reno County Sheriff's Department CodeRED 210 W. 1st Avenue, Hutchinson, Kansas 67501. Required information includes first and last name, street address (physical address, no P.O. boxes), city, state, zip code, primary phone number, and any additional phone numbers. You will be contacted to confirm your intent to "opt out". |
