The new CodeRED alert system in Goshen County is only as good as the information entered into it, according to local authorities.

On Oct. 1, the CodeRED system, which functions like a reverse 911 system, became operational in Goshen County. The system’s intent is to provide a high-speed telephone emergency communication system to notify people residing in Goshen County of significant emergency events such as severe weather, amber alerts (kidnapping), missing children or elders, evacuation routes, drinking water contamination, bomb threats, terrorism threats, gas leaks, chemical spills, hostage situations, neighborhood crime watch, school closings, utility outages and campus lockdowns.

The Goshen County CodeRED system cost $7,500, which was paid by the city of Torrington, Goshen County, Eastern Wyoming College and the Goshen County School District. These contributors each have the capability to place messages or alerts on the system. The CodeRED system has the capability of delivering pre-recorded emergency telephone notifications and informational messages to targeted areas or the entire county at a rate of up to 60,000 calls per hour. If no one is available to answer the CodeRED call, a message will be left on an answering machine or voicemail.

Although the system can help the city, county and school alert the public to important messages, Goshen County officials cautioned that the system is only as good as the telephone database supporting it. Currently all phone subscribers with Embarq are included in the database. However, some of this information is not accurate, and there are no cellular phones in the database.

Goshen County residens who have a phone - whether traditional or cellular - are encouraged to update their data in the Goshen County database. Each resident can enter an address, a primary and (optional) secondary phone number.

To ensure that no one is omitted and to confirm the accuracy of data in the system, all individuals and businesses are asked to update information at one of the following Web sites: Torrington Police Department: http://torringtonpolice.org; city of Torrington: http://www.city-of-torrington.org; Goshen County: http://goshencounty.org; or Goshen County Sheriff’s Office: http://goshensheriff.org. Residents can use any of these sites to update their information.

Each site’s home page features a CodeRED link to information about the system. The Web sites also have a place to update database information. Required information is: first and last name, street address (no P.O. boxes), city, state, zip code and primary phone number. Additional phone numbers are optional.

Officials say no residents should assume their phone number is included in the database. They encouraged all businesses to register as well as all individuals who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number or address within the last year and those who use a cellular phone as their primary home phone. Those who do not feel comfortable updating their information on a computer can fill out forms available at the Torrington police station or the Torrington Senior Friendship Center. This data will then be input to the CodeRED system.

“Seconds count in an emergency,” said Torrington Police Chief Billy Janes. “In this case more is better - I want to include as many Goshen County residents as possible. If you or someone near to you gets the emergency information it can be shared. This system is in use at Scottsbluff, Neb., Cheyenne, Laramie and other locations across the state and the nation. We have the capability to send messages to just a targeted group or geographic area of the county if they are the only ones affected.”

All personal information is safeguarded and not given out to unauthorized parties. Residents who do not want to be included in the Goshen County CodeRED database can call Torrington police dispatch at 307-532-7001. For additional information about the CodeRED system, call Goshen County Emergency Management Coordinator Shelly Kirchhefer at 307-532-7039.

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