Alachua County is going red.
Alachua County Emergency Management is encouraging residents to register for CodeRed, a new emergency-alert system.
CodeRed is a high-speed telephone communication service that delivers customized, prerecorded emergency messages to homes and businesses.
This service allows county officials to quickly deliver messages to targeted areas or the entire county.
“We need to have a toolbox of mechanisms to reach people,” said David Donnelly, emergency management chief for Alachua County.
CodeRed allows individuals and businesses to register a primary phone number, an alternate phone number and an e-mail address, Donnelly said.
Cell phone users can also choose to be notified via text message.
Alachua County is one of 13 Florida counties to have the CodeRed system.
Gainesville Police Department Cpl. Tscharna Senn said the system will benefit Gainesville residents.
“Anytime we can give knowledge to people in an easy way, it’s a plus,” Senn said.
According to Donnelly, the county is in a two-year agreement period with CodeRed, which will last until Oct. 1, 2011.
The system is funded by a Homeland Security grant.
Residents will not be called unless they are in the system’s database.
Residents can register with CodeRed at www.coderedweb.com.
