Rock Falls seeking subscribers for free new Code Red alert system

ROCK FALLS – The city is offering a new way to keep its citizens safe and informed, through a free alert system called Code Red.

People can sign up for emails, texts and phone calls that will inform them of all kinds of issues, from power outages to hostage situations, from boil orders to snow emergencies. Phone calls will utilize an automated voice, and will show up as an 800 number. The notices also automatically will post to the city’s social media sites, and TDD users will get a printed message.

“We’re just hoping to increase our reach,” Police Chief Dave Pilgrim said.

Sign up at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/BF7BFE0314C3 or download the mobile app at https://www.onsolve.com/…/codered-mobile-apps-download/

The service is free to users; the city pays $3,600 a year.

Rock Falls began looking at the system after Morrison signed on, Pilgrim said. It contracted with the company in late May, and has, through a sweep of online public records such as yellow and white pages, established a database of about 4,000 phone numbers. The city did not provide any customer information, Pilgrim said.

Only about 160 people actually have signed up, though, and officials would like to see far more.

That’s because those who sign up can specify the types of messages they want to receive and the way in which they want to receive them.

If there is a serious emergency, like, say, the city had to shut down its water supply, then all 4,000 phone numbers will get an alert. Otherwise, when it comes to general notifications, only those who have signed up for the service will get alerts.

Users also must sign up to get weather alerts. The hope is that, among other things, people will get notifications of power outages and so won’t be deluging dispatchers with calls to report theirs – they will see the city is aware of the outage.

Users can enroll using one or more addresses – which is how information is targeted – and one or more devices, and you don’t have to live in Rock Falls to sign up.

Messages also can be pinpointed to specific geographic locations. If there’s a hostage situation, for example, police could send a discreet message only to the neighbors, Pilgrim said.

Photos – of a missing child, say – can be included with email messages.

There also is a way to unsubscribe.

The city is planning a test of the news system at 1 p.m. Wednesday, so now is a good time to enroll. To subscribe to Code Red, text “rockfalls” to 99411 or use the Code Red link at www.rockfalls61071.net, the city’s website.

The city offers these tips for setting up your Code Red account:

1. If you live in the city or an area covered by the city’s electric and/or water service, use your home address.

2. If you own a business, work in Rock Falls, or have relatives in Rock Falls but you don’t live in the city, enroll using the address for which you wish to receive alerts.

3. Consider saving the numbers the calls, emails and/or texts come from in your contact lists.