Andover Residents Can Sign-up for CodeRED Alerts

Andover has contracted with Emergency Communications Network to license its CodeRED high-speed notification system in the event of an emergency, according to Police Chief Patrick Keefe. The police chief also serves as the director of Andover’s Emergency Management Agency.

Andover officials will have the ability to quickly deliver messages to targeted areas odf the town, or deliver messages to the entire town with the CodeRED system. Messages can be delivered via phone, text message, and email.

Chief Keefe cautioned that CodeRED will only be used in an emergency and that the system is only as good as the telephone numbers registered in its system.

“One of the main reasons we selected CodeRED is because it gives residents and business owners control by allowing them to add or remove their phone number directly into the system’s database,” Chief Keefe said. “You will only be contacted if you opt in.”

Chief Keefe urges those who wish to be notified about emergencies in Andover to log onto Andover’s custom CodeRED website to register. Anyone without Internet access can sign up at the Police Station, 32 North Main St.

All businesses should be registered as well as any resident or individual who would like to be informed in case of an emergency in town. This includes residents who have unlisted phone numbers, who have changed their phone number or have moved, and those with cell phones as their primary phone numbers.

“CodeRED allows geographically-based delivery, which means street addresses are required to ensure emergency notification calls are received by the proper people in a given situation,” Chief Keefe said. “The system works for all cell phones and even VoIP users, but we need to have it associated with a street address in order to provide relevant messages.”

The CodeRED registration system is easy and secure, according to officials. The data collected will only be used for emergency notification purposes. For more information, visit the Andover Police Website at andoverps.net/police