Longboat updates emergency network

Longboaters can be thousands of miles away from their island homes and still be kept up to speed with real-time weather alerts impacting their Florida properties.

In 2006, the town contracted with CodeRED, Emergency Communications Network LLC to provide high-speed notifications to residents via their telephones. The system delivers telephone calls and/or voicemail messages to targeted areas of the community, or to the entire island when needed.

The town of Longboat Key is hoping Longboat Key residents take the time to either join or update their contact information for the emergency-communications network used to deliver the notification updates.
Over the years, the system has been used to notify residents of gas leaks, road closures, bridge malfunctions, gas-line ruptures, precautionary boil water advisories, hurricane-evacuation information and other messages.

CodeRED includes a feature that enables individuals and businesses the ability to add phone numbers directly into the system’s database.

And, with a growing trend of people abandoning landlines for smartphones, the town urges people to visit longboatkey.org and click on the CodeRED link to add their cell phones into the system and update their contact information.

CodeRED also offers free apps for iPhones and Androids that allow residents, as well as those visiting the area, to receive community and emergency alerts through their smartphones. The apps also work for those traveling, who can receive updates such as traffic backups or severe-weather alerts.

“We want everyone to have their information up to date, so we are using the system to the best of our ability,” said Town Manager Dave Bullock.

Questions should be directed to Assistant to the Town Manager Susan Phillips at [email protected] or 316-1999, Ext. 243.