Area residents may now register cell phone numbers for CodeRED, a computerized emergency notification system, via the City of Stillwater's web site

For the past three years the Payne County 911 board has contracted with Emergency Communications Network, Inc., of Ormond Beach, Fla., for its "CodeRED" high-speed telephone emergency notification services.

(STILLWATER, OKLA. / Jan. 5, 2009) — Area residents may now register their cell phone numbers with the CodeRED system via the City of Stillwater's web site at stillwater.org.

For the past three years the Payne County 911 Board has contracted with Emergency Communications Network, Inc., of Ormond Beach, Fla., for its CodeRED service. This service is a computerized emergency notification system that allows the Payne County area PSAP's (Public Saftey Answering Points) and emergency officials to deliver pre-recorded emergency telephone notifications to targeted areas or the entire county at a rate of up to 60,000 calls per hour.

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.

With the upgraded system residents can now add their cell phone numbers into the system and associate the number with a residence. A good example would be a first time college student who moves away from home and lives in an apartment while they are going to school. This student only carries a cell phone and has no home phone. The student registers their address, associates it with their cell phone and adds their parents' numbers to the list. When CodeRED is activated, not only will the student receive the notification, but the parents will also.

Residential phone numbers (land lines) are already in the CodeRED system from telephone company records and need not be manually registered to receive CodeRED messages. Registration is only required if citizens would like to associate their cell phone numbers with their home address.

According to Rob Hill, City of Stilllwater Emergency Management technician, "Residents in the Payne County area who no longer have a home phone should take the time to register their cell phone in the CodeRED system so they can receive emergency notifications regarding their residence, neighborhood or community. No one should automatically assume his or her cell phone number is included. We encourage everyone, including businesses, to register."

Hill noted the system does not allow for duplication, so residents who are not sure if they have registered may safely re-enter their information. 

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 are optional.

People who do not have Internet access may call the Emergency Management Office at (405) 372-7484 with the required information and they will be added to the database.

OSU students are also encouraged to register their numbers.

"The information supplied will only be used for emergency notification purposes," said Hill. "The CodeRED registration web page provides an easy and secure method for citizens to maintain current contact information used by emergency officials."

For more information contact City of Stillwater Emergency Management at (405) 372-7484 or visit the web site at stillwater.org/seccc

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