“Essex urges residents to sign up for CodeRED system”

Essex urges residents to sign up for CodeRED system

Posted: 03 Jan 2011 08:49 PM PST

ESSEX — The town's new mass notification system is now fully operational and town officials are urging residents to sign up for the free program.

Essex joined the rest of Cape Ann's communities when a special Town Meeting approved a "reverse 911" system in November.

Voters approved spending up to $5,000 on a mass notification system to notify residents of emergency situations or important municipal announcements via mass phone calls, texts, and e-mails.

Last month, the town selected CodeRED to provide the service at an annual cost of $4,510.

Town Administrator Brendhan Zubricki said CodeRED will automatically include all listed numbers in Essex while residents with unlisted numbers can opt-in to the service to have messages delivered.

People who want e-mails and/or alternate numbers such as mobile phone numbers entered into the system can provide the system with their information by clicking on the CodeRED opt-in graphic located on the town's online homepage at www.essexma.org.

CodeRED, based in Ormond Beach, Fla., allows emergency officials to send recorded messages to all homes and businesses, or just a targeted area, within seconds. The messages inform residents of the situation and, if necessary, provide instructions for action.

According to CodeRED, "all businesses should register, as well as all individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number or address within the past year, and those who use a cellular phone or VoIP phone as their primary number."

The high volume and high speed communication service employs a unique geographical-based system capable of dialing 60,000 phone numbers per hour. It can deliver the pre-recorded message to a live person or an answering machine.

The pricing per-capita will never increase, and a new contract can be signed each successive year if Essex is satisfied with the service, Zubricki has said.

Town officials have said the primary reason Essex chose CodeRED was its usage by Gloucester and Manchester and soon Rockport. Another factor that influenced the decision was that it was the vendor most preferred by Essex' police and fire chiefs.

Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at 978-283-7000 x 3451 or jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.

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