CodeRED Emergency Notification

Dade County has instituted the CodeRED Emergency Notification System - an ultra high-speed telephone communication service for emergency notifications. This system allows us to telephone all or targeted areas of the County in case of an emergency situation that requires immediate action (such as a boil-water notice, missing child or evacuation notices) and the event of weather emergencies, if desired.

Whether you have already registered for CodeRED or are registering for the first time, you must “opt-in” for the automatic weather warnings.

The system is capable of dialing 60,000 phone numbers per hour. It then delivers a pre-recorded message describing the situations to a live person or an answering machine in the affected area possibly including instructions requiring action on the part of the recipient. Once the situation is remedied, another call will be placed to the area signaling that the issue has been addressed and that normal activities can be resumed.

Are you in the database?

CodeRED is a geographical based system where street addresses are needed to select the telephone numbers that will receive emergency notification calls. Public databases have been used to collect telephone numbers for existing Dade County homes and businesses and they have been placed into the CodeRED database. However, sometimes the public databases contain outdated information, thus no one should automatically assume his or her telephone number is included. All individuals and businesses should register, especially if you have an unlisted phone number, have changed your phone number or address within the last year, or you use a cellular phone as your home phone.

Special note about caller ID

The following numbers will display when you receive an emergency notification. We encourage all cell phone users to save these numbers in their phones for quick recognition of these important warnings at time of delivery. You may call these numbers back and receive the last warning message if you miss the call although a message should be left for you on your answering machine or voicemail.

WeatherWarn: 1-800-566-9780
CodeRED: 1-866-419-5000

How to register

The following information is required to add a telephone number into the "CodeRED" database: first and last name; address (physical address, no P.O. boxes); city; state; Zip Code; and primary phone number. A primary phone number is most likely the identified home phone number. An alternate phone number, such as a mobile phone, can also be entered and both the primary and alternate line will be contacted in the event of an emergency. The system works with cellular phones but requires a valid street address. 

When entering information, please fill out all of the screens because the newest data entered will replace the old data.

For those who are hearing impaired the Internet update offers a TDD ONLY option for tone delivery of emergency messages. Messages delivered to phone numbers marked TDD will only be delivered in a TDD/TTY format. Residents without Internet access may visit a public library within the county to use a computer or call the Dade County Sheriff's Department at 706-657-8774 to give their information over the phone.

This system will only be used for emergencies

Examples of times when the CodeRED system could be utilized: drinking water contamination, utility outage, evacuation notice and route, missing person, fires or floods, bomb threat, hostage situation, chemical spill or gas leak, and other emergency incidents where rapid and accurate notification is essential for life safety.

CodeRED Weather Warning, a bonus feature

Dade County residents can also sign up for CodeRED Weather Warning while signing up for CodeRED. The CodeRED Weather Warning will automatically call when severe weather (tornado, flash flood, and severe thunderstorm) warnings are issued by the National Weather Service for your address.  The CodeRED Weather Warning System calls only when warnings are issued and only if your address is in the path of the storm.

You may call 1-800-566-9780 from the phone that receives the Weather Warning calls, then push option 2 to "opt out" of weather related calls only.  You will still be registered for other CodeRED calls.