Officials will conduct a test call using the city’s new CodeRED emergency notification system at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16.
Wednesday’s call will allow communications staff to test the capacity of the system and determine how long the process takes to reach everyone. Calls are expected to be completed within two hours.
Fayetteville switched to the new CodeRed service earlier this year, and updated the protocol for sending messages after several complaints from residents who said the service sent too many notifications.
Under the new policy, residents will only be notified when there is a likely or imminent threat to citizen life or property. Examples of emergencies include catastrophic weather conditions, contamination of drinking water, explosions, terrorism, or Governor-approved states of emergency.
Wednesday’s test call will use telephone numbers from the following CodeRED database lists:
- 911 database – landline-only telephone numbers obtained from a 911 master telephone database.
- Proprietary CodeRED database – landline telephone numbers and some mobile phone numbers. Designed to notify as many citizens as possible of an emergency event.
- Citizen database – citizens who have signed up on the city’s alerts and notifications webpage to receive messages via landline telephone numbers, mobile phones and devices, texts, and/or email.
Residents are encouraged to sign up with CodeRED to ensure they receive emergency notifications. Smartphone and tablet users can download the “CodeRED Mobile Alert” app for free through the Google Play for Android or iTunes for IOS services.
CodeRED calls for Fayetteville will come from the numbers below. To hear the last emergency notification message delivered, simply call the number back.
- CodeRED Emergency Alert 866-419-5000
- CodeRED Weather Warning 800-566-9780
For more information about alerts and notifications, visit fayetteville-ar.gov.
