Milton Adopts CodeRED Emergency Alert System

The City of Milton has contracted with Emergency Communications Network to license its CodeRED high-speed notification system, announced Emergency Manager and Fire Marshal Dr. Matt Marietta. But now many city residents and businesses have to do their part, especially if they use a cell phone as their main number or have recently moved.

The system, which allows Milton to quickly deliver messages in emergency situations to targeted areas or the entire city, comes stocked with all listed phone numbers existing within the last year, according to a news release from the city.

However, businesses and residents must input numbers if they: 

• Have unlisted phone numbers
• Changed their phone number or address within the past year
• Use a cellular or VoIP phone as their primary number 

Required information includes first and last name, street address, city, state, zip code and primary phone number. Additional phone numbers can be entered, as well. All information is secure and will not be used for anything but emergency alerts.

To sign up, click here. You may also visit the City of Milton's Web site, and click on the CodeRED logo. If you would prefer to sign up over the phone, simply call 678-242-2500 and say you would like to register. The city will take care of the rest.

"If your phone number is not in the CodeRED database, you will not be called," said Marietta. "Do not assume you are in the database – in an emergency, you'd rather get two calls then none at all."

This system will replace the current free Nixle emergency alert system that texts residents, said Marietta. Privacy laws prevent city officials from seeing the 500-plus people currently using Nixle. So if you've previously signed up for Nixle alerts, you'll have to register with CodeRED.

"We understand this change may be a hassle for residents, but the payoff will come when there is precious little time in a true emergency," said Communications Manager Jason Wright. "If anything, the situation speaks to the secure nature of the information residents and business owners provide."

For more information on the CodeRED emergency alert system, email Matt Marietta or call him at 678-242-2570.