Summary

Getting the word out quickly to Green River Valley residents and businesses about flooding or other emergencies is the thrust behind the test of a rapid notification system set for next week.

Story

Getting the word out quickly to Green River Valley residents and businesses about flooding or other emergencies is the thrust behind the test of a rapid notification system set for next week.

Starting at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 20, emergency managers from King County and the cities of Auburn, Kent, Renton, and Tukwila will conduct a test of the CodeRED and MyStateUSA emergency notification systems. These systems give officials the ability to deliver urgent pre-recorded telephone, cell phone, email or text messages to targeted areas, at a rate of up to 60,000 contacts per hour.

The day-long test is an effort to ensure the proper functioning of the system. It is estimated that up to 175,000 listed phone, email and text contacts in the Green River Valley area will be involved in the test.

All messages will begin with the words: "This is a test..." The system makes up to three attempts to make contact and leaves a message if a phone's voicemail answers. The systems use listed "landline" phone numbers of residents and businesses in the target area, as well as messages to those who register with a notification list.

CodeRED and MyStateUSA are geography-based notification systems that use street addresses to select which phone numbers will receive emergency notification calls. In addition to telephone calls, residents and businesses may sign up to receive emergency notifications via text or e-mail.

Anyone wishing to register with the emergency notification database can do so through their local emergency management office:

City of Auburn: www.auburnwa.gov click on "Auburn Alert"
City of Kent: www.kentCodeRED.com
City of Renton: http://rentonwa.gov click on "CodeRED"
City of Tukwila: http://www.ci.tukwila.wa.us/listserv/hhdam_elist.html
King County (unincorporated areas): call 206-296-3830 or email ecc.kc@kingcounty.gov