Collin Collin County residents can now register for a free, ultra high-speed telephone notification system that can deliver pre-recorded messages to home, business or cell phones in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.

CodeRED gives county officials a way to get emergency messages out to residents and businesses at a rate of 60,000 calls an hour, and can target calls to specific geographic areas for emergencies such as evacuation notices, flooding or a public health crisis.

The free service went online in August, and taps a variety of commercial phone databases for its initial sources of contact information, according to Kelley Stone, Collin County's Director of Homeland Security.

"Collin County residents also need to know that they can register directly with us to make sure we have the right number to call them when it counts the most," Stone said. "This is an incredibly effective notification system, but it's only as good as the information available."

CodeRED's residential update link allows residents to plug in their own information - including cell phones or unlisted numbers - that may not be on file with commercial databases. Officials say the information collected will remain completely private and will only be used to notify residents in critical situations. To register online, click here.

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 can be entered, and residents can also have message option to be delivered in English, Spanish or to a TDD/TTY-enable phone for the hearing impaired. Because the CodeRED system is a geographical-based notification system, street addresses are necessary to select which phone numbers will receive emergency notification calls in a crisis.

The system is paid for through a state homeland security grant. Collin County contracted with Emergency Communications Network, Inc., of Ormond Beach, Fl., CodeRED's service provider.

For more information, please contact Collin County's Homeland Security at 972-548-5537 or (Metro) 972-424-1460 ext. 5537.

If you would like to be removed from the CodeRed database, please send an email to codered@collincountytx.gov with your name, address, and phone number.

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