Atchison County recently updated its account with OnSolve, providers of the CodeRED high-speed notification solution and the CodeRED Weather Warning service. This no-charge update will allow message recipients to easily identify calls coming through the systems. The message recipient’s Caller ID will read OnSolve or 866-419-5000 for CodeRED calls. And for CodeRED Weather Warning calls, either OnSolve or the number 800-566-9780 will appear on Caller ID displays.
Most relevant for our citizens, says Rhonda Wiley, Atchison County 911/Emergency Management Director, “Residents can simply dial the number displayed on their Caller ID to hear the last message delivered. This will greatly reduce the number of inbound inquiries handled by our office and will offer residents an immediate replay of the message. Currently Atchison County is utilizing TextCaster to disseminate text messages to alert citizens. We will continue to utilize TextCaster until we have everyone signed up for CodeRED. Until such time, you will receive notification from both. The switch to CodeRED enables us to call land lines and mobile phones to alert citizens to danger. It also allows us to draw a polygon around an area and send a message to that specified area within the county. These features give Atchison County a more layered approach to alert and warnings. TextCaster will continue to be utilized for notifications such as “cattle out” and other non-emergency communications with our citizens.”
The CodeRED system provides Atchison County officials the ability to quickly deliver messages to targeted areas or the entire county. If you are not sure that you are included in the database, simply log onto the Atchison County Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/AC911, and follow the “sign up” button at the top right hand corner of the page. It will take you to the “CodeRED Community Notification Enrollment” page. It is recommended that all businesses register, as well as all individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number or address within the past year, and those who use a cellular phone or VoIP phone as their primary number. Those without internet access may call the Atchison County 911/EM administrative number (660-744-6606), Monday through Friday (8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.), leave your name and number and Mark or Rhonda will call you and take your information over the phone. You may also sign up by texting “atchison” to 99411.
CodeRED Weather Warning is an opt-in only weather warning product that taps into the National Weather Service’s Storm Based Warnings. CodeRED Weather Warning automatically alerts affected citizens in the path of severe weather just moments after a warning has been issued.
More information can be found on the company’s website at www.onsolve.com.
