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During the recent flooding event on Marco Island, many residents were informed about the redirection of traffic away from the Judge S.S. Jolley bridge toward the Goodland Bridge to avoid a flooded area on Collier Boulevard, near South Barfield Drive.

If you are reading this and did not receive a call, please read on about the City of Marco Island’s “CodeRED” high-speed telephone emergency notification services. The CodeRED system gives City officials the ability to deliver pre-recorded emergency telephone notification/information messages to targeted areas or the entire city at a rate of up to 60,000 calls per hour.

Many citizens have already received a call from this important emergency network, but the notification system is only as good as the telephone database supporting it. In other words, if your phone number is not in the database, you will not be called. The CodeRED system not only offers faster calling rates and improved message delivery, it gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own phone numbers directly to the system’s telephone database.

Required information includes first and last name, street address (physical address only, no Post Office boxes), city, state, zip code, and primary phone number. If you attempt to provide this information and receive the message “we are unable to automatically identify your address,” please enter your e-mail address at the bottom of the page and submit. CodeRED will enter the information manually and send an e-mail to you when complete.

Please do not assume you are registered: You cannot assume that your phone number is automatically included. For example, businesses and residents which have unlisted phone numbers, have changed phone numbers or addresses within the last three months, or use a cellular phone as their primary home phone should be sure to register with CodeRED.

Your street address is critical: The CodeRED system is a geographical based notification system, which means street addresses are needed to select which phone numbers will receive emergency notification calls in any given situation. The system works fine for cell phones too, but we must have a street address. People who have recently moved but kept the same listed or unlisted phone number also need to change their address in the database.

Emergency use only: CodeRED gives those who want to be included an easy and secure method for doing so. The information will only be used for emergency notification purposes.

Interestingly enough, there is a no call list: Those who do not want to be notified in the event of a disaster or emergency must complete and submit a no call form. However, it is important to note that this means you will not receive phone notices about any disasters or emergencies, including such as mandatory evacuations, chemical spills, boil water notices or any other issues relating to the safety of your home or business. It is not possible to choose to be called on certain emergencies, but not others. If you still want to be on the no call list, e-mail the City’s Public Information Coordinator at ldouglass@cityofmarcoisland.com

When a recorded emergency message is sent out, the automated system will attempt to deliver a message to all phone numbers within a selected geographic area. Calls can be accepted by persons and by answer machines.

To make sure that your number is included, please visit the City’s Web site (cityofmarcoisland.com) and click on the CodeRED logo to make sure that your home or business is registered. If you have questions please contact the Public Information Office at 239-389-5037 or e-mail ldouglass@cityofmarcoisland.com.