For Immediate Release

Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016

Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: john@jgpr.net

Great Barrington Launches CodeRED Emergency Notification Service

The following release reflects updates to the Town of Great Barrington’s implementation of the Code RED emergency notification system.

GREAT BARRINGTON — Town Manager Jennifer Tabakin is pleased to announce that the Town of Great Barrington is now implementing CodeRED, a high-speed emergency notification system. The town encourages all community members to sign up to receive alert messages.

The CodeRED system provides Great Barrington officials with the ability to quickly and seamlessly deliver messages to targeted areas or to the entire town when necessary via phone, text message and/or email.

The majority of notifications will be emergency alerts, such as a missing child or senior, a water issue, accident, or road closure. General notifications, such as town meetings, will occasionally be disseminated.

The majority of landlines in Great Barrington have already been automatically enrolled into the CodeRED program. However, town officials encourage all residents to register their cell phones in conjunction with their home address to customize how they’d like to receive information.

In addition, participants can list secondary numbers to receive alerts, such as those of family members or caretakers who lives outside town borders. All data entered into the system is private.

“CodeRED gives residents control of how they receive emergency information,” Chief William Walsh said. “Even if your landline is already registered, please log on to customize the system for your convenience. We recommend seniors list a secondary contact to receive alerts as an extra layer of protection.”

To register for CodeRED in Great Barrington, log onto the town’s website and click the CodeRED icon on the home page.  Anyone without Internet access can sign up at the following locations, where assistance will be available to register:

• Mason Public Library, 231 Main St.
• Ramsdell Public Library,1087 Main St.
• Claire Teague Senior Center, 917 Main St.
• Town Clerk’s Office, 334 Main St.

All businesses should be registered, as well as any resident or individual who would like to be informed in case of an emergency in town. This includes residents who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number or have moved and those who use cell phones as their primary phone numbers.

“CodeRED operates on a person’s home address to provide the most up to date information,” Fire Chief Charles Burger said. “Please make sure to register your cell phone and email in conjunction with your home or business and verify your address when signing up.”

Click here for a flyer detailing how to enroll in Great Barrington’s CodeRED emergency notification system.

Residents may also contact Karen Smith at Ksmith@townofgb.org with questions regarding the CodeRED system.

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