If you’re among the many Habersham Countians spending Easter preparing for possible severe weather, here’s a tool to add to your emergency toolbox.
CodeRED is a geo-targeted, automated alert system that notifies users of severe weather threats and public emergencies. The system is fully integrated with NOAA Weather Radio and other nationally recognized alert systems.
When signing up, subscribers may choose which types of alerts they would like to receive. CodeRED delivers automatic notifications by phone, text messages, emails, and mobile apps.
“These messages provide recipients the time and information needed to effectively protect lives and property,” says county EMA assistant director Melanie Bellinger.
Other Northeast Georgia counties including Banks, Hall, Rabun, and White use similar public alert systems.
Specific targeting. More reliable.
Because the CodeRED system uses geo-coding based on subscribers’ addresses, it can deliver alerts to specific areas. “In the case of weather or hazardous material incidents, the alerts can go out to targeted areas to warn them and also to disperse recovery information after an incident,” explains Bellinger.
Habersham County is using CodeRED in conjunction with its current Nixle alert system until more residents and businesses become aware of the new system and sign up. Bellinger says the county is making the switch because the free Nixle platform is “not reliable” and is limited to texts and emails – no phone calls.
Habersham County purchased its CodeRED system in June 2019. It cost $10,750 and was paid for through E911 general revenue funds.
Before implementing the system, the county had to go through a formal registration and application process with FEMA and GEMA.
The system went online in late 2019.
As of March 20, 2020, only a limited number of Habersham County businesses and residents had signed up for the alerts. Signing up is quick, easy, and FREE. To join, follow the instructions below.
Register Online: To sign up for CodeRED visit the Community Notification Enrollment website by clicking on the following link: Habersham County CodeRED Register on Your Smartphone: Encourage your friends and neighbors to enroll. Text "HabershamGA" to 99411 to receive a direct link to the enrollment form on your mobile device. Get the CodeRED Mobile Alert App: The CodeRED Mobile Alert App is available for iPhone and Android users. Downloading the app does not register you in the Habersham County CodeRED system.PLEASE NOTE: A 1-year mobile app subscription costs 99¢
