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Emergency Notification Myths

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1. Is it true that is I live in a remote location, the system won’t be able to find me?

Emergency notifications are usually geographically based. Please use the CodeRED portal to register the physical address and contact methods into the system. P.O. Boxes and other mailing addresses should not be used as they do not correspond to the physical location that might be affected. For more information see our CodeRED page.

2. Is CodeRED vital in an emergency? Or does it just notify me of Farmer’s Markets, tree lightings, movie nights, etc?

In a county as big and diverse as ours, natural disasters and accidents like floods, fires, tornadoes, chemical spills, train derailments, industrial mishaps and other emergencies may strike with little or no warning. CodeRED is one of the fastest methods of mass notifications and the Sheriff's Office only utilizes the system to make emergency notifications within a limited geographic area. This is different than the Emergency Alert System which notifies people across a large geographic area. Neither system is used to send non-emergency messages.

3. Am I guaranteed to receive a call when a disaster occurs if I am registered?

Many situations beyond the control of the Sheriff’s Office affect the delivery of an emergency notification such as:

• Phone line disruption
• Power outage
• Call screening (not answering or hanging-up believing it is a telemarketing call)
• Changing a phone number without updating the system
• Not answering call-waiting
• Not checking voicemail
• Overloaded phone circuits

This is why we utilize a variety of notification methods.To increase your odds of successful notification, you should register multiple methods (landline, cellular, email, text, and TDD), install the CodeRED app on your smart device, and become familiar with the phone numbers and caller identification display associated with emergency notifications.You should still monitor Emergency Alert System messages by radio, television, NOAA weather radio, and wireless alerts on your cell phone in order to receive timely automated notices. Emergency personnel may also be sent door-to-door, so it is important to answer the door when they knock so you can receive the notification.

4. Can I have my landline removed from CodeRED when and if I choose?

You may opt out of CodeRED emergency notifications through the CodeRED website. However, we discourage you from doing this as you will be reducing the chances of receiving emergency information that may save your life. Many complaints about notifications are actually related to outdated information. If you move, change jobs, or add/change phone numbers or emails, you should update your CodeRED profile to make sure it is accurate and that you receive notifications for the correct area.

5. Can I have my phone number associated with several addresses so I can monitor my parents’ home and my kids as well?

If you create a profile on the CodeRED registration site, you can associate more than one Jefferson County address with your account. You can then add phone numbers, email addresses, and TDD devices and select how you want to be notified for each address. For instance, you could add your work address and have notifications sent to your office number, cell phone, and work email while notifications for your residence might go to your home phone and cell phone/text.

6. Can I only register one phone number for my address?

During an emergency, we need to reach as many people possible, in the shortest amount of time. You can add multiple phone numbers to each address within your CodeRED profile. For each number, you can identify whether a telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) is attached or if you want to receive a text message in addition to the voice call. You can also add email addresses.

7. Can I select the types of emergency situations that I want to be included in the notification and exclude others?

You cannot select the types of emergency situation for which you want to be notified. Notifications are generally geographic, so the emergency will very likely affect you or we wouldn’t be contacting you! If you create a CodeRED profile, you can choose to receive “general” notifications. The sheriff’s office only sends emergency notifications via CodeRED, so this will not change the notifications you receive from us. CodeRED also lets you opt-in to weather notifications that are generated by the National Weather Service (NWS). You can choose what type of weather warnings you want to receive and how you want to receive them. These messages are not sent by the sheriff’s office and you do not have to receive them.

8. If I have call screening/interception to discourage telemarketers, will I receive the alerts?

If your telephone system rejects anonymous/blocked/out of area calls or requires a valid caller identification (ID), the call will be completed (for emergency voice notifications your caller ID will display '866-419-5000’ or ‘Emergency Comm.' If you register for CodeRED voice weather warnings, caller ID will display '800-566-9780’ or ‘Emergency Comm’. However, if your telephone setup requires someone to dial a particular code or follow some other type of prompt to get connected, the call will not get through to you. In order to receive notifications in this case, you would need to disable this feature or update your CodeRED profile to provide for email or text notifications (text notifications come from the number ‘76993’).

9. Do I have to pay for the service?

CodeRED is funded by the Jefferson County Emergency Communications Authority, which is supported by the Emergency Telephone Charge (ETC) you pay on your phone bill each month. There are no additional charges for the service. However, if your phone provider charges you a per-minute or per-text fee, those standard charges would still apply.

10. I never get any calls, is the system working?

If you aren’t receiving notifications, you are either not registered (not good) or we haven’t sent any emergency messages to your geographic area (which is good). Check your CodeRED profile to make sure you are registered and the contact information is correct. When you update your profile, CodeRED will offer to make a test call to your number(s) to simulate an emergency notification. This will confirm the system is functioning. Since we limit notifications to emergency situations, you should not expect frequent messages!

11. Can you only be notified via text alerts?

The CodeRED system lets you choose your preferred method(s) of notification. You can choose to only receive text messages. However, be aware that due to character limitations, text messages provide the least amount of information. We also recommend that you have at least two methods of notification that use different paths to you. For example, a text message (cell phone provider) and email (Internet provider) increase your chances of being notified if one of the services is having an issue.

12. Will I still receive emergency notifications if I don't sign up?

If you have a CenturyLink landline or Comcast VoIP phone you should be in the database. Other VoIP providers may not provide your information to the 911 database, so this cannot be assumed. To be safe, register for CodeRED notifications and customize to your needs. Don’t be left out!

13. If I have a profile on Smart911 will I receive notifications?

The two systems serve different purposes. Smart911 [LINK] shows dispatchers information that you want emergency responders to know when you call for help; CodeRED allows dispatchers to share information with you. Smart911 and CodeRED are completely different systems and data is not shared between the two. You must register for each system in order to benefit from the unique service each provides.

14. If I am on vacation will I be contacted if an emergency affects the address entered?

The system won’t know when you are on vacation. However, it will still attempt to notify you by leaving a message, calling your cell phone, texting, or emailing. To get these notifications while you are gone, make sure you create a CodeRED profile and provide the alternate means of reaching you.

15. If I don't answer my phone, will the system leave a message?

The CodeRED system should recognize when a voicemail system has answered and leave a message. When a voice line is answered, the system attempts to identify if a human answered, if a TDD device answered, or if an answering machine/voicemail system answered. If you answer but do not speak, the system may not play the recorded emergency message and will call back. If you receive a voicemail with a partial message, you can call the CodeRED system back at 866-419-5000 and it will replay the last message sent to that number.

16. What do I do if I made a mistake on my account?

If you need to correct any information on your account after you have submitted it, you may contact your local dispatch center. Please use the non-emergency line for Jefferson County Dispatch: 303-277-0211.

17. If I miss part of the message, is there a way to listen to it again?

Many talk groups, channels, and frequencies are simultaneously used for law enforcement, fire, and EMS communications, so you may miss radio traffic if your scanner is stopped on a different talk group. More and more sensitive communications are encrypted, which prevents scanner reception. Finally, important details about emergency notifications are often handled using cellular phone or electronic means. The bottom line: scanners can give you some situational awareness, but official notifications are still the most reliable information when it comes to evacuations and other emergency instructions.

18. Can I get the same information from a police scanner?

Many talk groups, channels, and frequencies are simultaneously used for law enforcement, fire, and EMS communications, so you may miss radio traffic if your scanner is stopped on a different talk group. More and more sensitive communications are encrypted, which prevents scanner reception. Finally, important details about emergency notifications are often handled using cellular phone or electronic means. The bottom line: scanners can give you some situational awareness, but official notifications are still the most reliable information when it comes to evacuations and other emergency instructions.

19. If the power grid fails, will I still receive the notification on my landline?

If your phone service is through CenturyLink and you have a conventional, the phone will function when power fails as it is powered through the phone system, not your household electrical power. Cordless phones will work if the base unit has battery or other backup power. Cell phone and text messages will function if the phone is charged and if the power outage has not affected the tower of your service provider.

20. Is it complicated to add my phone number to the CodeRED database?

It couldn’t be simpler! To register visit the CodeRED website.

21. Will my number be sold to telemarketers?

No. Your contact information is only used for emergency notifications. We do not sell, distribute, or use any of your information for any purpose not directly related to emergency notifications. The CodeRED system conducts notifications based on the area mapped and dispatchers cannot look-up or browse your personal information.

22. Can I receive notifications through the App on my phone?

You are encouraged to download and install the free CodeRED app available for Android and IOS devices. Our system does not share emergency notification with any other apps, so don’t rely on any other notification app. You should still register your information with CodeRED as those notifications are based on locations you have registered. The CodeRED app works entirely by geographic proximity. For example, if you travel near an area where a notification is active, the app will alert you, whether you are registered in that area or not. However, if you travel out of state, for example, you wouldn’t receive notifications for activities back home unless you register with the CodeRED system. We suggest you use both services for maximum likelihood of receiving notifications wherever you go.

23. Doesn't the sheriff's office already have my phone number?

If you have a landline service, yes. We have both listed/unlisted and business/residential phone numbers within Jefferson County. Our database is updated monthly and consolidates customer address information of listed and unlisted phone numbers obtained from CenturyLink and Comcast. If you have voice over IP (VoIP) service, check with your phone provider to see if they are ‘CodeRED compliant’ and that your account information is current. We do not have your cell phone information or email until you opt-in to CodeRED. In any case, you are safest registering a profile with CodeRED, customizing it to your liking, and keeping it up to date.

24. Do these calls count against my cell phone's minutes plan?

Voice calls, SMS text messages and emails to your wireless phone are treated link any similar communication you might receive. If your telephone service provider charges you for these communications then you will be charged for notifications in the same manner.