Tama County has contracted with Emergency Communications Network to license its CodeRED high-speed notification solution. The CodeRED system provides Tama County officials the ability to quickly deliver messages to targeted areas or the entire County including the Incorporated Cities of Chelsea, Clutier, Dysart, Elberon, Garwin, Gladbrook, Lincoln, Montour, Tama, Toledo, Traer and Vining. Roxane Warnell Tama County Emergency Management/911, Director, cautioned that such systems are only as good as the telephone number database supporting them. “If your phone number is not in the database, you will not be called.” One of the reasons the CodeRED system was selected is it gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own phone numbers directly into the system’s database, this is an extremely important feature. “No one should automatically assume his or her phone number is included,” Warnell said urging all individuals and businesses to log onto the Tama County website, WWW.tamacounty.org, and follow the link to the “CodeRED Community Notification Enrollment” page. 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 as well, such as cell phones for all members of the household. 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. Warnell explained, “CodeRED allows geographically based delivery, which means street addresses are required to ensure emergency notification calls are received by the proper individuals in a given situation. The system works for cell phones too, but we need to have an associated street address to provide relevant messages.” Warnell stated, “CodeRED gives those who want to be included an easy and secure method for inputting information. The data collected will only be used for emergency notification purposes.” “Tama County Emergency Management received grant funding through the Department of Homeland Security to fund the 1st year of the contract with no cost to Tama County or its residents.” Questions should be directed to the Tama County Emergency Management Office, 641-484-6261. About Emergency Communications Network Emergency Communications Network Inc. (ECN) provides affordable high-speed notification solutions capable of reaching millions of citizens in minutes. ECN’s sophisticated network supports a web-based product suite featuring CodeRED® which enables local government officials to communicate time-sensitive, personalized messages via voice, email and text messaging. TO DO INFO: What:Make sure your telephone number is registered with the new CodeRED emergency alert system. To verify if your home or business land line phone is in the data base go to the website to make sure it is there or to enter the number. If want your cell phone to receive the CodeRED alerts, you MUST register on the website. How: Log onto the Tama County website, WWW.tamacounty.org, and follow the link to the "CodeRED Community Notification Enrollment" page. If you need assistance, you may call Tama County emergency Management - 641-484-6261 When CodeRED alert call comes: •Listen to the whole message •Remember, if you have caller i.d., the prefix 866 will come up- this is the CodeRED number -do not hang up because you do not recognize it.
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