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1. What is CodeRED and what is it used for?

CodeRED is a web-based critical communication solution that enables local public safety personnel to notify residents and businesses by telephone, text message, email, and social media of time-sensitive information, emergencies, or urgent notifications. The system can reach hundreds of thousands of individuals in minutes to ensure information such as evacuation notices, missing persons, inclement weather advisories, and more are quickly shared. Only authorized officials have access to send alerts using the CodeRED system.

Backbone of the City’s Emergency Planning & Communications Outreach

CodeRED serves as the backbone of the City’s emergency planning and communications outreach. The platform allows the City to communicate with residents and personnel by sending telephone calls, text messages, emails, posts to social media and Mobile Alert app messages, to inform residents of emergencies and better protect life and property.

Therefore any message regarding the safety of our residents and community will be disseminated using CodeRED. We will send out alerts via phone, text, email, and social media in a variety of situations including boil water notices, gas leaks, evacuation notices, police activity, fire emergencies, missing persons, and more. This is a community alert system to ensure you remain informed of important information. When signing up for CodeRED, you can also sign up for Weather Warning to receive calls when severe weather (tornado, flash flood, severe thunderstorm, and winter storm) warnings are issued by the National Weather Service for your address.

Select Your Preferred Means of Communication

Please keep in mind that as you register to receive CodeRED alerts, you have the ability to select the types of messages you wish to receive and your preferred means of communication. Your contact information remains private and will only be used for community notifications.

2. What is CodeRED Weather Warning?

When severe weather strikes, seconds can make a difference in how people prepare and respond. To help further protect the safety of our residents, the City has also contracted to utilize the CodeRED Weather Warning system, an optional service users must subscribe to in addition to standard CodeRED.

No one should assume they are automatically enrolled in Weather Warning and should log onto your account to make sure you are enrolled to receive the severe weather alerts of your choice.

Full Automation for Critical Weather Alerts

Without any human intervention required, CodeRED Weather Warnings deliver advanced notification of severe weather events as soon as a bulletin is issued by the National Weather Service (NWS). The system delivers voice calls, text messages and emails to subscribed users within the direct path of the storm. These messages provide residents the extra time needed to take precautions and save lives. Alert warnings may include tornado, severe thunderstorm, flash flood, tsunami and winter storm warnings.

Geo-Targeted & Relevant Notifications

CodeRED Weather Warning uses a polygon methodology to interpret bulletins issued by the National Weather Service to determine the severity of the warning and the exact areas affected. The system then creates a calling database of all CodeRED Weather Warning subscribers within the projected path of severe weather. Instead of traditional county-based warnings, the system delivers targeted alerts to only those who may be affected, increasing their relevance and reducing false alarms.

Subscription Required

The CodeRED mobile app is free, however after a 30 day free trial, the Weather Warning upgrade for the app must be purchased. You can purchase this app upgrade for $4.99 per year through Google Play or iTunes.

3. How do I sign up?

Visit our Community Notification Enrollment page and enter the required information online (address, name, phone number(s), and email). This is the quickest way to sign up because the information you supply is immediately registered in the system.

Those who have recently moved to the City but kept the same listed or unlisted number will need to input their current address into the database. When entering information, please fill out all of the screens. The newest data entered will replace the old data. Some have shared that addresses in newer phases of subdivisions may not be recognized. Should the system not accept your address you can use City Hall’s address (3411 Barker Avenue) and then let us know so we can follow-up accordingly.

Note

You will not receive severe weather alerts and notifications if you have only elected to enroll to receive the standard CodeRED notifications initiated by the City. If you want to receive these weather alerts, you must opt-in separately when signing up for CodeRED.

4. How does CodeRED work?

CodeRED is an ultra-high-speed telephone communication service for emergency notifications which allows us to telephone all or targeted areas of the City in case of an emergency. The City will utilize CodeRED in any situation that requires immediate action (such as a boil-water notice, missing child, and evacuation notices) but CodeRED may also be used in situations that are non-emergency related such as water service interruptions or traffic closures.

CodeRED delivers a prerecorded message describing the situations to a live person or an answering machine in the affected area possibly including instructions requiring action on the part of the recipient. The system works with both land line and cellular phones, but you must have a City of Melissa street address in order for the system to issue the proper notices.

Recently Moved to Melissa?

Those who have recently moved to the City but kept the same listed or unlisted number will need to input their current address into the database. When entering information, please fill out all of the screens. The newest data entered will replace the old data. Some have shared that addresses in newer phases of subdivisions may not be recognized. Should the system not accept your address you can use City Hall’s address (3411 Barker Avenue) and then let us know so we can follow-up accordingly.

Notification Types

Both CodeRED and CodeRED Weather Warning notifications are available by phone, email, text and mobile app (weather warning is an additional add on for a fee). For the most reliable severe weather warning delivery the City recommends you elect to receive the weather warnings via phone due to reported delays in receiving text messages as delivery time may vary by mobile service providers.

Weather Warning System Notice

Please note that the CodeRED Weather Warning System calls only when warnings are issued and only if your address is in the path of the storm and for those warnings you have elected to receive. If you want to be notified of watches and warnings issued to the broader geographical area, we recommend you consider purchasing a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio with Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) technology which ensures you will receive Advisories, Watches, and Warnings that are intended for your specific area or those you choose to follow.

Visit the NOAA website to learn more about NOAA National Weather Radios.

5. Is there a cost to register for CodeRED?

No, registering for CodeRED phone calls, text messages, and email are free. Simply sign up on our enrollment website and select your preferred means of communication.

Note

The CodeRED mobile app is free to download and includes a 30-day free trial of CodeRED Weather Warning, however after the 30 days you can purchase the Weather Warning service upgrade for $4.99 per year. The app can be downloaded and upgrade purchased through the Google Play or iTunes.

6. How will I know when CodeRED is calling?

A CodeRED message will have the caller ID number 866-419-5000 for emergencies and caller ID number 855-969-4636 for non-emergencies. We suggest that you program these numbers into your cell phone as a "new contact" and use "CodeRED" as the contact name. If you need to replay the message received, you can dial the appropriate caller ID number and listen to the message again in its entirety.

7. Why is CodeRED important to me?

CodeRED is an important to tool to help keep you informed and prepared for any emergencies that may occur in our area. Officials will send messages to alert you of emergency details, instructions, or precautions that you need in order to make well-informed decisions and remain safe. This system is precise enough to geotarget residents within an exact area of impact, so that only those people who are affected by emergency situation are notified.

8. Can I register more than one phone number or email for my address?

Yes, you can register more than one phone number and/or email address for your location when you register for CodeRED. Please note that it is highly recommended you register at least one phone number and one email address to ensure that you will receive CodeRED alerts in the event of a power outage or an incident that may occur late at night when you are generally asleep.

9. What do I do if I receive a CodeRED message?

If you receive a CodeRED phone call, listen carefully to the entire message. You can repeat the message by pressing any key. Do not call 911 for further information unless directed to do so, or you need immediate aide from the police or fire department.

If you receive a CodeRED email or text message, please be sure to read the entire message carefully and follow all instructions.

10. What if I miss a CodeRED phone call?

The CodeRED system will leave a message on your answering machine or voicemail if you miss a CodeRED phone call. If you do not have an answering machine, the system will consider the call as "incomplete" and will attempt to call again after several minutes have passed. If your phone line is busy, CodeRED will try two more times to connect. At any point, you may re-dial the 800 number on your caller ID to hear a replay of the message sent.

To review which numbers on your caller ID may be CodeRED, visit the frequently asked question titled "How will I know when CodeRED is calling?".

11. Do I ever need to renew my registration?

Renewals are not necessary as long as your contact information has not changed. If you move, however, you must update your information to ensure you will continue receiving these valuable notifications.

12. What is the CodeRED Mobile Alert app?

CodeRED offers a mobile app for Android and iPhone devices. All residents and business owners are encouraged to download the free app to receive alerts based on the geolocation of your phone.

As you travel throughout other CodeRED communities, you can receive important alerts that include community, emergency, and severe weather information.

The CodeRED mobile app is free to download and includes a 30-day free trial of CodeRED Weather Warning, however after the 30 days you can purchase the Weather Warning service upgrade for $4.99 per year. The app upgrade can be purchased through the Google Play or iTunes.

App Downloads

To download the CodeRED Mobile Alert app, visit Google Play or the App Store.

13. How do I opt out of CodeRED Weather Warning notifications?

Those wishing to unsubscribe, should complete the opt out request online directly with ONSOLVE, the parent company for CodeRED.

City staff cannot complete this for you and can only unsubscribe users from basic CodeRED City issued notifications.