Verde Valley AZ (December 1, 2014) – The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office will be TESTING the Emergency Notification System (ENS), also known as Code Red, this Wednesday, December 3rd, by calling the entire community.
The calls will begin at 10 AM and will continue until the entire database has been attempted. These calls will give Yavapai Sheriff Communication’s personnel the chance to operate the system as if there has been a community wide disaster. Additionally, the message being delivered directs recipients to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office website at www.ycsoaz.gov, and the Emergency Notification System link in the blue menu bar at the top of the page. Accessing this page will allow you to submit additional notification numbers. The test message also asks that recipients spread the word by mentioning the system to family, friends, and neighbors. Please consider signing up or adding contact information before the test notifications so you can be assured the system is able to reach you.
Sheriff Scott Mascher suggests that “all individuals and businesses should take the time to visit our website and add contact information to include landline and cell phones, as well as email and text addresses. If your contact information is not in the database, you will NOT receive a call when an urgent message is sent.” The Sheriff’s Office also encourages businesses to register, as well as individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number recently, and those who use a cell phones exclusively or have VoIP phones (such as Vonage) as their primary numbers.
ENS, “CodeRED,” allows geographically based delivery, which means street addresses are required, along with a primary phone number, to ensure emergency notification calls are received by the proper individuals in a given situation. Notification preferences can be selected during sign-up. Also consider downloading the Code Red app for your smartphone.
Those without Internet access may call 928-771-3260 Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm for assistance signing up for the free service. Additional phone numbers, email, and text addresses may also be entered. All information in the system is held in strict confidence.
Another advantage to getting these alerts – If there is a fire, flood, or other emergency incident near your home while you’re away, the notification allows you to contact neighbors, or friends in the area to check on your property, remove valuables, or even secure animals if necessary.
Direct access to the CODE RED sign up page is here:
https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/A45C10E5EC0F
Citizens can contact the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office with information or questions at 928-771-3260 or the YCSO website: www.ycsoaz.gov