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Madison County Launches New Emergency Notification System

Community members at the Azalea Festival learning about the CodeRED emergency notification system

News Summary

Madison County is set to unveil the CodeRED emergency notification system at the upcoming Azalea Festival. This upgrade replaces the decade-old Nixle system, promising to effectively reach the entire county population of 13,000 residents. CodeRED allows for targeted notifications during emergencies and provides timely alerts about severe weather, power outages, and more. With a quick launch anticipated, residents can easily sign up to stay informed.

Madison County Introduces Exciting New Emergency Notification System at Azalea Festival

Get ready, Madison County! A fantastic new lifeline is on the horizon as the county introduces the CodeRED emergency notification system at the much-anticipated Azalea Festival. This initiative aims to revamp the way important information is delivered to residents, ensuring everyone stays connected during emergencies.

Why the Change?

Have you ever felt out of the loop during urgent situations? Well, worry no more! The county’s current system, known as Nixle, is more than a decade old and has started to show its age. With it struggling to effectively reach residents in recent years, the need for an upgrade became glaringly obvious. Currently, Nixle can only inform about 4,000 individuals, while CodeRED promises to reach every single one of the county’s 13,000 residents!

The best part? CodeRED not only covers the population more comprehensively but also allows for communication to be tailored to specific areas within the county. So, if there’s an emergency in just one neighborhood, notifications can be sent only to those who really need to know.

Learning from the Past

Reflecting on past emergencies, like the devastating battery plant disaster, the deficiencies of Nixle are clear. Should a similar event occur, CodeRED will ensure that only citizens in affected areas receive alerts, making communication crystal clear and timely. About 6,000 residents are already signed up in a public database, paving the way for CodeRED’s warm welcome in the community.

What Will CodeRED Deliver?

So, what can you expect from CodeRED? It’s designed to keep you informed about a range of important notifications. Think severe weather events, electrical outages, boil water orders, and road closures – all those things that matter when lives and safety are on the line! With the new system, timely updates mean you’ll never feel left out in the cold.

Speed Matters

Another critical improvement lies in the speed of notifications. The old Nixle system was notoriously slow, especially during emergencies, which made it difficult to relay urgent alerts on time. For example, during tornado alerts, staff had to go through the cumbersome process of copying and pasting messages, resulting in unnecessary delays. CodeRED, on the other hand, can send out up to 4,000 messages per minute when delivering unencrypted messages, providing quicker and more reliable communication than the paltry 400 messages delivered by encrypted messages. Now that’s a game changer!

Making It User-Friendly

Madison County E-911 is keen on making CodeRED accessible to everyone. Residents can sign up easily via an online portal or simply text “MadisonMO” to 24639. Registration requires your name, address, and how you prefer to receive notifications – whether it’s via text messages or app alerts. Simple, right?

The Launch Is Near!

Big news for Madison County: the official launch of CodeRED is just around the corner, expected by next week! The commitment to public safety is stronger than ever, and this new system proves it.

So mark your calendars for the Azalea Festival where you can learn more about this exciting new initiative, ensure your family is informed, and embrace a safer future together with your community!