Oceanport Residents: Sign Up for Code Red, Urges OEM

A message from the Oceanport Office of Emergency Management:

The Borough of Oceanport’s Emergency Management and town Council urge all residents to sign up for the Code Red emergency communication system. It was a vital link during Sandy in getting information out to residents. The Council’s plan to increase contact with its residents on important General Information matters will be delivered via the e-mail component of the Code RED system. 

The Borough maintains a contract with Emergency Communications Network (ECN) to license its Code RED high-speed notification solution. The Code RED system provides Oceanport officials the ability to quickly deliver Emergency Information messages, via phone, text message or e-mail to targeted areas or the entire Borough. The Borough shares the system and the cost with the Oceanport Board of Education. Information from the Board of Education goes directly to parents, who’s children are in the school system based on Call Lists by grade.

Buzz Baldanza, Oceanport Emergency Management Coordinator, and Mayor Michael Mahon cautioned that such systems are only as good as the information database supporting them. “If your phone number, cellular phone or e-mail address is not in the database, you will not be contacted on that particular form of communication. One of the reasons the Code RED system was selected is it gives individuals and businesses the ability to add their own phone numbers and e-mail directly into the system's database, this is an extremely important feature.”

“No one should automatically assume his or her contact information, phone or e-mail is included,” Baldanza said urging all individuals and businesses to log onto the Oceanport Borough website, and follow the link to the "Code RED” page.

Those without Internet access may call Oceanport Boro Hall 732-222-8221, Monday through Friday, (9:00AM-4PM) to supply their information over the 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 and an e-mail address.

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.

Baldanza explained, "Code RED allows geographically based delivery, which means street addresses are required to ensure emergency notification calls are received by the proper individuals in a given situation. The system works for cellular phones too, but we need to have an associated street address to provide relevant messages. We urge our residents and business to enroll in this important communications system. Each resident or business will be able to establish an account and maintain it. This account will allow them to input their address, home phone, cellular phone and e-mail address. If changes need to be made they simply access their account and change the information.” If you are not sure if you had an account before or you enrolled but an account was not available before, just enroll again. The system checks the database and alerts the local system manager of an updated enrollment.

The system also allows the hearing impaired to communicate via a TDD/TYY device. We presently have 15 residents using this service.

The Code RED Mobile Alert App is now available for the iPhone and Android system. This allows Notifications not just for your residents, but also citizens who happen to be traveling into the affected geographic location of our notification area. Smart phones with the new Code RED Mobile Alert App will be alerted with a push notification along with the voice file of the alert for up to 24 hours after being issued by any of the nationwide Code RED clients. To obtain the APP, click here.

Mayor Mahon stated, "Code RED gives those who want to be included an easy and secure method for inputting information. The data collected will only be used to provide residents with time-sensitive, personalized messages. General Information via e-mail and Emergency Information via voice, email and text" Questions should be directed to the Oceanport Boro Offices, 732-222-8221.