(Smyrna) – In an effort to update and improve the statewide Delaware Emergency Notification System (DENS), the Delaware Emergency Management Agency (DEMA) has contracted with Emergency Communications Network to license its CodeRED high-speed notification solution. The CodeRED system provides officials in Delaware with the ability to quickly deliver messages to targeted areas of the state, and will enhance the ability of DEMA to issue DENS notifications quickly and accurately.
The DENS system will be used for messages regarding the safety, property or welfare of the community, and may include AMBER Alerts™, notifications of hazardous traffic or road conditions, boil water advisories or evacuation notices. CodeRED allows for geographically-based delivery of DENS warnings, thus, street addresses are required to ensure that the proper people receive emergency notification calls in a given situation. While the system also works with cell phones, street addresses ensure that relevant messages are delivered. DENS/CodeRED emergency messages will have a Caller ID of 866-419-5000, while general CodeRED messages will have 855-969-4636 as the Caller ID. It is suggested that individuals and businesses that register should program both numbers into cell phones as “new contacts” using “CodeRED Emergency” and “CodeRED General” as the contact name. That allows a person to replay the notification message, by dialing the number to hear it again. CodeRED will leave messages on answering machines or voice mail. If the line is busy, the system will attempt two more contacts.
CodeRED provides individuals and businesses that want to be included in emergency notifications with an easy and secure method to input information. While the CodeRED database contains information from public databases, Delaware Emergency Management Agency Director Jamie Turner cautioned that the CodeRED system is only as good as the telephone database supporting it. “If your telephone number is not in the database,” warns Turner, “your number will not be called. No one should assume that their number is in the system, so everyone is encouraged to register online or by phone.”
One of the reasons the CodeRED system was selected for the DENS notifications is that it gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own telephone numbers directly into the system database. Individuals and businesses should log into DEMA’s homepage at http://dema.delaware.gov and click on the link to the “Delaware Emergency Notification System/CodeRED Community Notification Enrollment” page.
Residents who wish to enroll but do not have internet access may do so by calling 877-SAY-DEMA (877-729-3362). to supply their information over the telephone. Telephone registration is available Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM. Information that is required information first and last name, street address (no P.O. box), city or town, state, and Zip Code. Both primary phone numbers and additional telephone numbers (such as cell phones) can be registered into the system. Individuals and businesses with unlisted telephone numbers, who have changed either phone numbers or addresses within the past year, or who use a cellular telephone or VoIP phone as their primary number, should enroll.
Director Turner stresses that all data collected will only be used for emergency notification purposes. No information will be sold, traded, leased, or loaned to any third parties.
CodeRED is a service of Emergency Communications Network of Ormond Beach, Florida. Additional information on the DENS/CodeRED emergency notification system can be obtained by calling 877-SAY-DEMA (877-729-3362). during regular business hours.