Woodridge Police To Test CodeRED Emergency Notification System

WOODRIDGE, IL — The Woodridge Police Department and CodeRED will carry out an "All Call" test starting Tuesday, in an effort to reach as many contacts in Woodridge as possible, and to test the emergency notification system while encouraging people to sign up for it before the school year begins. According to a news release from the Woodridge Police Department, this "All Call" test is going to reach thousands of people over several days in Woodridge, and allows public safety officials to quickly deliver targeted messages in Woodridge regarding emergencies. The police department added that the test checks connection rates — and time and the accuracy of the contact information database is essential in an emergency.

CodeRED provides geographic emergency notifications by call, text, and email, and public safety officials would use the system to help keep people informed of situations that can immediately impact safety, according to the news release.

A few examples of when the Woodridge Police Department would use CodeRED criminal activity near a specific neighborhood or workplace (depending on the address registered), active shooters, evacuation notices, floods, and missing person cases, the news release said.

Don't miss updates about precautions in the Woodridge area as they are announced. Sign up for Patch news alerts and newsletters.

"If your phone number is not in the database, you will not be called," Woodridge Police Department Chief Brian Cunningham said, in the news release, adding that emergency notification systems are only as good as the telephone number database supporting them.

Similar to testing tornado sirens, the CodeRED “All Call” test ensures proper operation, the police department said, adding that the test also assists in public awareness of the emergency alert program. The Woodridge CodeRED system does not utilize the national system, Integrated Public Alert and Warning System(IPAWS).

According to the news release, one of the reasons the Woodridge Police Department selected CodeRED is that it gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their phone numbers directly into the system's database — a significant feature.

“No one should automatically assume his or her phone number is included,” Woodridge Police Department Deputy Chief Tom Stefanson said, in the news release, urging all individuals and businesses to log onto the Woodridge Police Department website, follow the link to the Register” page. You can also text WOODRIDGE to 99411 to enroll your information from your mobile phone. Required information includes first and last name, street address (physical address, no P.O. boxes), city, state, zip code, and primary phone number, additional phone numbers can be entered as well.

All businesses should register, as well as all individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, who
have changed their phone number or address within the past year, and those who use a cellular phone or VoIP phone as their primary number, the police department added.

"CodeRED allows geographically based delivery, which means street addresses are required to ensure the proper individuals receive emergency notification calls in a given situation," Deputy Chief Stefanson explained. "The system works for cell phones too, but we need to have an associated street address to provide relevant messages."

The police department said they encourage all Woodridge residents and businesses to register for free. Woodridge residents and businesses may enroll in CodeREDon the Village of Woodridge website or by texting “Woodridge” to 99411.