The City is launching an emergency notification system that will alert residents about major incidents and disasters. The system, called CodeRED, works by automatically placing phone calls to Radford residents included in the CodeRED database.

While we have a database started, please do not assume that your number is in it. Follow the link provided to add your home phone, cell phone or business number - or all phones if you’d like.

In the event of an emergency, the caller will hear a recorded message from a Radford City official informing them of the situation and any recommended action they should take. If an emergency is ongoing or new developments occur, citizens may receive critical updates through additional phone calls.

For example, all phones will be notified if there is a citywide evacuation notice. If there is a water main break, however, only the affected homes will receive a phone call. Bottom line, the main focus of the system is to keep citizens informed about vital information and emergencies without burdening them with unnecessary phone calls or inconsequential events.

Additionally, the City has also purchased CodeRED Weather Warning, which is designed to deliver severe weather warnings when they have been issued by the National Weather Service for your specific neighborhood. The system’s technology uses heading and speed of storms to determine which specific areas of the City need to be alerted. It is so advanced that you may receive a phone call but your neighbor a street away may not, depending on the projected path of the storm. Addresses within these areas are then contacted via telephone by an automated message warning of the specific threat and recommending action to take, if applicable. Types of warnings include those for severe thunderstorms, flash floods, and tornadoes.

CodeRED Weather Warning is an opt-in program only, meaning you have to specifically sign up to receive it – even for your listed home phone number. Again just follow the provided link and check box that you’d like to receive CodeRED Weather Warning.

And while it is actually good news if the City does not need to use CodeRED, we believe it is important to have this tool to help communicate with our residents should an emergency situation occur.

If you wish to opt-out of receiving any emergency warnings through CodeRED, please call 731-3603 for further instructions.

The CodeRED emergency warning system, along with CodeRED Weather Warning, were both purchased with a grant from the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. For more information on CodeRED visit www.coderedweb.com. For questions about Radford’s system, please contact Becky Hawke at rhawke@radford.va.us or 731-3603.