Emergency Notification

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	CODE RED SERVICES
	Union County and City of Marysville officials are please to announce they are cooperatively implementing an emergency notification system called CodeRED®.

	An extremely high-speed system, CodeRED® is used to launch outbound phone calls to home, business and cell numbers. It's an easy way to quickly call everyone within our community (or a specific geographically mapped portion of our community), for evacuation notices, search and rescues, boil water alerts, man-made or environmental disasters, utility notifications, etc. CodeRED® is capable of delivering thousands of messages an hour.

	CodeRED® primary uses include, but are not limited to:

	Missing Children/Elderly Bulletins Brush/Wild Fires Flood Disasters Gas Leaks Hazardous Transportation Accidents Train Derailments Hazardous Chemical Situations Toxic Plumes Shelter-In-Place Issuance Non-Emergency Notifications (Parades, Civic Events, Road Construction-expected delays, etc.) Possible Major Weather Disasters (pre and post storm notification) Major Power/Utility Interruptions (planned outages, tree trimming notices, etc.) Water Main Repair or Low Water Pressure Notices and Boil Water Alerts Delayed Trash Pick-up (holidays, debris after storms, etc.) Public Health Warnings Communications with City/County Staff, City Council/Mayor/County Commission, City/County Constituents Communication with Local, Regional, Statewide and Nationwide First Responders Armed Robbery Alert (ex. Automatically contact every convenience store, drug store, bank, etc.) School Closings: Emergency Mid-day ONLY (contact parents cell/work phones) Neighborhood Crime Watch Notifications/Information
	CodeRED® technology immediately recognizes a live human voice. As soon as a person begins to say "Hello" into the phone, CodeRED® is already delivering the message. If a citizen has an answering machine or voicemail, CodeRED® knows that the person saying "Hello" is NOT a live voice. The system will not deliver the message until the voicemail or answering device beeps, tones, or chimes. This insures citizens hear the entire message. CodeRED® also provides a detailed audit trail following a message launch so City/County officials can see who did/didn't receive the call and how the message was delivered (person, answering machine, non-connect, etc.). The City and County want to reach everyone affected by an emergency whether or not they have signed up for CodeRED®. Three telephone number databases are already available to the system. One is the emergency 9-1-1 database all public safety agencies in Union County use whenever someone dials 9-1-1. Another is the City's utility account database using only name, address and phone number for each customer. Finally a database prepared by the company that supplies CodeRED® service is also used. All databases are updated regularly. Residents on Union County are encouraged to sign up individually for this service. This affords the database to have the most current and accurate information possible. The quickest and easiest way to sign up is to use the link at the top of this page. Using this link will immediately update our CodeRED® telephone number database. Forms are also available at any County or City Government office. You can also call the Union County Sheriff's Office at 645-4110 or the City of Marysville at 642-6015 and a member of the staff will assist you.


	What you should know about our community's CodeRED® service...

	Q: What is CodeRED® and why is it important to me?
	A: CodeRED® is a new Union County/City of Marysville service by which officials can notify residents by telephone about emergency situations or critical community alerts. The system is capable of sending messages only to people affected by a particular situation, or, in the case of a widespread emergency like a tornado, to the County's entire population. The speed of the CodeRED® system is so great that it is able to send a message to affected households almost as quickly as officials become aware of the situation.

	Q: Does this mean the local governments will be calling me constantly?
	A: No. Union County/City of Marysville respect your privacy. CodeRED® will be used only when situations arise that you should know about. All of your personal information will be kept confidential and secure. No one's personal information will be released to any other source. The system will be used to send messages only to those residents who are directly affected by a particular event. For example, if you happen to live in an area for which a "boil water" advisory has been issued due to a water main break, CodeRED® will call only you and your neighbors to deliver that very important health advisory. If there is a City or region-side emergency such as a tornado, all Union County/City of Marysville residents will be called and, if necessary, kept up to date on developments.

	Q: For what kinds of situations will CodeRED® be used?
	A: Tornados and other types of severe weather, floods, water main breaks, alerts concerning a missing child or adult, road closings, traffic alerts, law enforcement emergencies, hazardous material spills - in short, any and all emergencies and community alerts.

	Q: Why do I need CodeRED® when I have radio and TV to keep me informed?
	A: CodeRED® is an additional measure of safety the County & city believe all of our residents need and deserve. If power goes out, you may not be able to depend upon radio and TV. However, because telephone lines are self-powered, we can continue to keep you informed through messages delivered by CodeRED®. Even if you have power, CodeRED® will probably be able to reach you with important information faster than TV and radio stations can put it on the air. That's because CodeRED® is a direct connection between you and our county & city. Many emergencies occur without advance warning. In such cases, you may have no reason to turn on a TV or radio. That's when CodeRED® can help officials alert you immediately and advise you to take appropriate action.

	Q: I have a cordless phone, and it does not work when the power goes out. How is the City going to be able to contact me?
	A: There are two ways you can continue to receive telephone messages from the City through CodeRED®: Make sure you have at least one working corded telephone - and be sure to turn the ringer on. The CodeRED® "Residential Data Collection" sign-up form gives you the option of filling in both a Primary Phone Number and an alternate phone number. You can fill in the Alternate Phone Number blank with your cell telephone number, or you can make it your primary phone number if you wish. Entering an alternate phone number will cause BOTH your primary and alternate phone numbers to be called. Of course no form of communication is guaranteed to remain in operation under severe conditions such as those produced by a powerful tornado or wide-spread flooding. CodeRED® does widen the safety margin by offering residents another new and powerful means of learning about vital, timely information.

	Q: Do I have to pay extra for CodeRED® service?
	A: No. CodeRED® is entirely paid for by Union County/City of Marysville at a cost of less than 40 cents per resident per year.

	Q: Does the County/City have my telephone number, or do I have to sign up to receive CodeRED® emergency calls?
	A: We strongly encourage you to sign up for CodeRED®. After all, you are the most reliable source of information about how to reach your household by phone. Because Union County/City of Marysville want to reach everyone affected by an emergency whether or not they have signed up for CodeRED®, three telephone number databases are already available to the system. One is the emergency 9-1-1 database all public safety agencies in Union County use whenever someone dials 9-1-1. Another is the City's utility account database using only name, address and phone number of each customer. Finally a database prepared by the company that supplies CodeRED® service is also used. All databases are updated regularly. If you have moved or changed your telephone number recently, you should definitely sign up for CodeRED® service or update information you have already provided. Any new information you supply will automatically replace old information.

	Q: How do I sign up for CodeRED®?
	A: Click on the CodeRED® link at the top of this page or on the homepage. This will link you to the CodeRED® Residential Data Collection Form you can fill out online. This is the quickest, easiest way to sign up because the information you supply will immediately update our community's CodeRED® telephone number database. Forms are also available at any County/City government office. Or if you prefer, you can call Union County Sheriff's Office at (937) 645-4110 or the City of Marysville's main switchboard telephone number at (937) 642-6015, and a member of the staff will help you.

	Q: Can I arrange to have CodeRED® call my place of business?
	A: Yes. Click on the CodeRED® link at the top of this page or on the homepage. When the Residential Data Collection Form opens, click on the button labeled "Click to Switch to Business Data" and fill in the required information. Please note that emergency calls can only be delivered to a direct dial number. Automated attendants will disrupt the process and calls will not be delivered.

	Q: Can I choose NOT to receive CodeRED® messages?
	A: Yes. Union County/City of Marysville respect your privacy. If you do not want to receive calls, please notify Union County/City of Marysville, preferably in writing. However, we strongly advise you to reconsider. CodeRED® is designed to make certain you receive fast, accurate emergency information directly from the officials whose job is to help protect you and your family.

	Q: Who provides the CodeRED® service? Is the company reputable?
	A: Emergency Communications Network in Ormond Beach, Florida, provides the service to Union County/City of Marysville. In business since 1996, among CodeRED®'s many current Ohio clients are the Miami Valley Communications Council and the cities of Springboro, Forest Park, Kettering, Montgomery, Moraine, Waynesville, Beavercreek, Tipp City and Dayton. One of the many reasons Union County/City of Marysville chose CodeRED® was the very positive experience these cities had using the system.

	Q: I live near Union County, but I am not a resident. Can I sign up for CodeRED®?
	A: No, unfortunately. Union County/City of Marysville pay for CodeRED® service based on our population. However, we encourage you to check with the county or city in which you live. Many use automated telephone notification systems to alert residents in times of emergency. Staff members will regularly check the CodeRED® database and eliminate addresses and telephone numbers not located within Union County's borders.


	Union County is now providing an early telephone warning system designed to automatically deliver targeted weather notifications for the immediate threats of severe thunderstorm warnings, flash flood warnings, tornado warnings and winter weather advisories within moments of being issued by the National Weather Service (NWS). This service is available at no charge to Union County residents.

	Q: How does CodeRED® Weather Warning work?
	A: CodeRED® Weather Warning utilizes state of the art satellite equipment to capture severe weather warnings within seconds after they are issued by the National Weather Service. CRWW computers instantly interpret each bulletin to determine the severity of the warning and the exact area affected. If the NWS Bulletin has identified a severe storm, the CRWW system creates a calling database of all CRWW subscribers in the potential path of the storm. This calling database is then submitted within seconds to the massive CRWW automated calling system.

	Q: We already have CodeRED® in Union County. Why do we need another system?
	A: CodeRED® Weather Warning can provide critical extra time for preparation in case severe weather threatens. Warning calls are initiated automatically, with no interaction needed by personnel in response to Nation Weather Service warnings.

	Q: I'm already signed up for CodeRED® . Will I receive the Weather Warnings, too?
	A: No. You must fill in a new registration to be part of the new weather warning service.

	Q: How fast will I be notified of a weather emergency?
	A: CodeRED® Weather Warning is capable of delivering over one million weather warning calls per day. The dialing speed of CRWW makes it possible to call our subscribers within seconds after a warning is issued for their area. Warnings are delivered so quickly they often arrive before any other warnings are made public.

	Q: I want to receive a warning call whenever my family or residence may be in danger. What's the best way to insure that?
	A: Register for the CodeRED® Weather Warning. If your phone number is not already included in the CodeRED® alert system, it will be added there as well.

	Q: If I register, will I be called every time the National Weather Service issues a storm warning for Union County?
	A: CodeRED® uses advanced polygon-based technology to determine the areas that may be most vulnerable. Calls are only sent out to those whose addresses fall within the polygon. This may be a very small area or a very large one, depending on the storm.

	Q: Can I register my cell telephone number as well as my home telephone number?
	A: Yes, you can register a cell telephone number by you will only get calls for warnings associated with the address you have registered with CodeRED®.

	Q: How do I sign up for CodeRED® Weather Warning?
	A: Click Here to access the registration form. Enter your information into the form and make sure the option for CodeRED® Weather Warning near the bottom of the page is checked. If this box is not checked, you will not receive weather warnings.


	Statistics for severe weather in Union County since January 1, 2008 include: 3 Tornado Warnings; 17 Severe Thunderstorm Warnings; 53 Winter Storm Warnings.


	CodeRED® Weather Warning will deliver a prerecorded alert message directly to telephones in the projected path of severe weather. This is done 24 hours a day, 365 days a year giving residents the needed time to prepare. This becomes even more critical if a tornado comes through your area during the night, when television, radio broadcasts and sirens are ineffective. CodeRED® Weather Warning uses new polygon warning methodologies based on "Storm Based Warnings" direct from the National Weather Service (NWS) and contacts only those in the affected areas, eliminating many false alarms associated with prior notification methods. CodeRED® Weather Warning monitors each NWS bulletin to determine the severity of the warning and the exact area(s) affected in addition to the predicted path of the threatening storm. It then creates a calling database of all subscribers within the projected area of the severe weather. This database is then immediately submitted to the CodeRED® Weather Warning automated calling system.