You Can Now Register Your Cell Number With the Emergency Notification System

As more homes move to mobile phones for residents instead of a single landline to connect a house to the world, a small problem creeps up. How does the county or state alert residents in the event of an emergency?

One way is to receive the CodeRED alerts from Anne Arundel County's Emergency Notification System to your mobile phone. Registrants can sign up to receive alerts via email or on their cell phone via text message

Emergency alerts can pertain to a specific situation, say a missing person, crime suspect in the neighborhood—or a more general notifications like changes in trash pick-up, or a rash of break-ins in a given neighborhood.

Registration is confidential, free and only takes a few minutes.

Call the Office of Emergency Management at (410) 222-0600 if you have any additional questions or concerns.

In addition, the state of Maryland has a new registry, the Emergency Contact Information program was developed to help law enforcement or emergency personnel contact the next of kin in the event of a serious accident or injury when the injured person is unable to communicate.

This database is connected to each driver's license or identification card issued by the state. People simply submit their information online at www.mva.maryland.gov. In addition, the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration also has kiosks at all of their offices. The information is very secure and can only be accessed by authorized law enforcement personnel.