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1. What is CodeRED and why is it important to me?

CodeRED is an emergency notification service by which town officials can notify Bedford residents and businesses by telephone, cellular phone, text message, or electronic mail about time-sensitive emergency situations or important community alerts. The system is capable of sending messages only to specific neighborhoods or the entire town. Only authorized officials are allowed access to the system.

2. For what kinds of situations will CodeRED be used?

Any message regarding the safety or welfare of our community would be disseminated using the CodeRED system. Examples would include severe weather warnings and updates, hazardous traffic or road conditions inside the town or affecting local routes, and any other situation that could impact the safety, property, or welfare of our citizens.

3. Does the CodeRED system replace other systems that have been used to provide time-sensitive information to residents?

This system is an enhancement to existing means of communication and is supplemental to, not a replacement for, the systems we have used in the past. Sign up for website-initiated alerts through our Notify Me system and social media (Facebook and Twitter) will continue to broadcast important announcements.

4. Does the Town have my telephone number, or do I have to sign up to receive CodeRED emergency calls?

The Code Red Database does use the information received from public databases including regional phonebooks. Cellphones and Unlisted numbers may not be available. Visit the Town of Bedford CodeRED registration page. This is the quickest way to sign up because the information you supply will immediately update Bedford's CodeRED telephone number database. If you do not have access to the internet at home, please consider using a computer at the Bedford Library or ask a friend or family member for assistance. Online registration is the most efficient, accurate, and private way to supply your information. To register online you might first have to adjust your internet browser to enable cookies, otherwise, you may receive an error message. If you can not register online, you can call 781-275-1212, ext. 4169 for assistance. It is our intention and hopes that every residence and commercial facility in our community will be included in the notification database.

Visit the Town of Bedford CodeRED registration page.

5. I have a business located in Bedford. Can I arrange to have CodeRED call my business?

Yes. Fill out the CodeRED registration form but be sure to select the “This address is business” option. Please note that emergency calls can only be delivered to a direct dial number. Automated attendants will disrupt the process and the calls will not be delivered. Businesses should register their main number and establish a procedure for distributing the CodeRED message to their workforce.

6. The registration form only allows me to enter a primary and secondary telephone number. What if I want to register additional numbers for my address?

After you submit the initial registration form, you may start the registration process again and submit more numbers for the same address.

7. What precautions are being taken to protect personal information?

CodeRED is a service of Network Emergency Communications (ECN) that takes security and privacy concerns very seriously and does not sell, trade, lease or loan any data about clients to any third party.

8. How will I recognize a CodeRED message?

A CodeRED Emergency message will have a caller ID of 866-419-5000. A CodeRED General message will have a caller ID 855-969-4636. We suggest you program both numbers in your cell phone as a "new contact" and use "CodeRED Emergency" and "CodeRED General" as the contact name. If you need to replay the emergency notification message again, simply dial this number and you will be able to hear the message again.

9. What should I do if I receive a CodeRED message?

Listen carefully to the entire message. It will be brief and at the end of the message, you will have the option to repeat the message by pressing any key. Follow the instructions given. Do not hang up until you have heard the entire message or you might miss vital information. Do not call 911 for further information unless directed to do so or if you need immediate aid from the Police or Fire department.

10. I have a cordless phone, and it does not work when the power goes out. How is the Town going to be able to contact me?

1. Make sure you have at least one working corded telephone - and be sure to turn the ringer on.
2. The CodeRED sign-up form gives you the option of filling in both a Primary Phone number and an alternate phone number. You can fill in the Alternate Phone number with another contact number such as your cell phone number or work number. Entering an alternate phone number will cause BOTH your primary and alternate phone numbers to be called.

11. Will CodeRED leave a message on a machine?

Yes, CodeRED will leave a message on a machine or on voice mail. Part of the CodeRED solution is the patented ability to recognize answering devices and leave message completely in one pass.

12. What happens if the line is busy?

If the line is busy, CodeRED will try two more times to connect.

13. What circumstances might prohibit a message from being delivered to me?

1. If you have moved or changed your phone number and have not registered your new contact information, CodeRED may not be able to contact you.
2. If you have only cordless phones in your residence, the power is out and you have not registered an alternate phone number, CodeRED will not be able to contact you.
3. If your line is busy for an extended period and your calls do not forward to voice mail or an answering machine in a busy condition, after three tries CodeRED will stop calling your number. The Town will receive a report of undelivered calls and can instruct CodeRED to begin another round of calls to busy numbers. It's best to have an alternate phone number in the calling database for these situations.
4. If you have a privacy manager on your main phone service, CodeRED will not be able to contact you unless you have registered an alternate number that will accept the call.