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Crime & Safety

Sheriff's Office to Test Emergency System Monday, Jan. 14

CodeRED call directs residents to opt into system.

Editor's note: The following is a news release from the Scott County Sheriff's Office.

On Monday, Jan. 14, the Scott County Sheriff’s Office will be sending a test phone call to Scott County residents by using the CodeRED Emergency Notification System. The purpose of this test call is meant to announce and promote the CodeRED Mass Notification system and the Weather Warning system, an automated severe weather alerting service.

The calls will start at approximately 11 a.m. and will continue until the entire database has been attempted. It is expected that all calls will be completed by 3 p.m.

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The message that is being delivered directs recipients to the Scott County web site to opt into the system and select the types of warnings they are interested in receiving. Citizens must add their information to receive the severe weather warning calls; this data will also populate the CodeRED database.

The call will also ask everyone to share this information with their families, friends and neighbors. 

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Chris Weldon, the Scott County Emergency Management Director, recommends that everyone should consider opting in to the CodeRED Weather Warning system. He also suggests that “all individuals and businesses should take the time to visit our website and add contact information to include cellular phones and other non-traditional phones as well as email and text addresses (for use by the CodeRED system). If your contact information is not in the database you will not receive a call.”

In particular businesses should register, as well as individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number recently and those who use a cellular phone exclusively or have VoIP phones (such as Vonage) as their primary numbers.

Weldon urges citizens to log onto the Scott County website at www.co.scott.mn.us and follow the CodeRED link.

CodeRED gives those who want to be included an easy and secure method for inputting information. The data collected will be used only for emergency notification purposes. Required information includes a street address (physical address, no P.O. boxes) for location purposes and a primary phone number. Additional phone numbers, email and text addresses may also be entered.

Those without Internet access may call 952-496-8381 Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Questions should be directed to the Emergency Management Office at 952-496-8381; more information about CodeRED and Emergency Communications Network (ECN) can be obtained at www.ecnetwork.com.

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