August 13, 2019 – County of Nevada Office of Emergency Services will conduct a test of the CodeRED emergency alert system August 15, 2019 starting at 10:00 A.M.

All Nevada County residents, including those who live in Nevada City and Grass Valley, are advised to prepare by registering for CodeRED emergency alerts one of the following ways:

CodeRED alerts will display as originating from 866-419-5000 or 855-969-4636 on caller ID. Residents are encouraged to save these numbers to phone contacts.

In preparation for the test, County officials have made every effort to spread the test information, generate new enrollment, and answer questions from the community. Outreach at the Nevada County Fair, Nevada City First Friday Art Walk, Grass Valley Downtown Thursday Night Markets, as well as reminders in movie theaters, on the radio, in newspapers, social media, and road signs have proven effective in reaching new people.

“We have more than doubled sign ups since last year and every week we see more sign ups coming in,” says Office of Emergency Service’s Analyst Jenn Tamo. “We’re pleased with the results, but we know there are more households to reach. We’re hopeful they will come on board before the test or get motivated to follow up after the test.”

In an effort to clarify confusion, Office of Emergency Services has provided a list of frequently asked questions gathered during their outreach.

What is CodeRED and what is it used for?

CodeRED is a web-based critical communication solution that enables local public safety personnel to notify residents and businesses by telephone, text message, email, and social media of time-sensitive information, emergencies, or urgent notifications. The system can reach hundreds of thousands of individuals in minutes to ensure information such as evacuation notices, missing persons, inclement weather advisories, and more are quickly shared. Only authorized officials have access to send alerts using the CodeRED system.

How will I know when CodeRED is calling?

A CodeRED message will have the caller ID # 866-419-5000 for emergencies and caller ID # 855-969-4636 for non-emergencies. We suggest that you program these numbers into your cell phone as a “new contact” and use “CodeRED” as the contact name. If you need to replay the message received, you can dial this number and listen to the message again in its entirety.

Does CodeRED already have my telephone number?

No resident should assume that their information is in the system. Please visit our ReadyNevadaCounty.org and look for the link for the Emergency Alerts link to register online.

Does it cost to register for CodeRED?

No, registering for CodeRED phone calls, text messages, and email are free. Simply sign up on our enrollment webpage and select your preferred means of communication.

What do I do if I receive a CodeRED message?

If you receive a CodeRED phone call, listen carefully to the entire message. You can repeat the message by pressing any key. Do not call 911 for further information unless directed to do so, or you need immediate aide from the police or fire department. If you receive a CodeRED email or text message, please be sure to read the entire message carefully and follow all instructions.

Someone in my household already signed up. Does that mean I’m registered too?

Not necessarily. Verify your mobile phone numbers and personal email addresses are registered, in addition to your home phone. Make sure minors with mobile phones are also registered.

What if I miss a CodeRED phone call?

The CodeRED system will leave a message on your answering machine or voicemail if you miss a CodeRED phone call. If you do not have an answering machine, the system will consider the call as “incomplete” and will attempt to call again after several minutes have passed. If your phone line is busy, CodeRED will try two more times to connect. At any point, you may re-dial the 800 number on your caller ID to hear a replay of the message sent.

What will the test say?

“This is a test of the CodeRED emergency alert system for County of Nevada, California. This is only a test. No further action is required.”

How long with the test last?

We will only send out one alert starting at 10am on Thursday, August 15, 2019.

What should I do when the test happens?

Check your devices and make sure you received your alerts effectively. Consider how you might respond in an actual emergency and adjust your emergency plan accordingly.

I don’t know if I’m signed up. How can I check?

If you have a registered account, you may login to your account with your username and password. If you do not receive an alert on Thursday August 15, your registration is not complete. If you would like to speak to a person to assist you in the process, call 211 or 1-833-DIAL211.

What is the CodeRED Mobile Alert app?

CodeRED offers a mobile app for Android and iPhone devices. All residents and business owners are encouraged to download the free app to receive alerts based on the geo-location of your phone. As you travel throughout other CodeRED communities, you can receive important alerts that include community, emergency, and severe weather information. To download the CodeRED Mobile Alert app, visit Google Play or the App Store.

I live in the Town of Truckee and heard about a different test. Can you clarify?

The Town of Truckee will conduct a simultaneous test of the Nixle emergency alerts system, which serves Town of Truckee residents. Truckee residents are encouraged to register for Nixle emergency alerts, in addition to CodeRED. Truckee Police Department and Truckee Fire Protection District provide the primary emergency notifications to Town of Truckee residents via Nixle. Town of Truckee residents and visitors alike can sign-up for Nixle messages by texting 888777 to their zip code, or online, for pre-event messages and emergency notifications.

What should I do if I didn’t get the test alert?

Please follow the instructions to register. Choose one of the following ways to sign up:

Online at ReadyNevadaCounty.org/EmergencyAlerts

Text ReadyNevadaCounty to 99411

Call 211 or 1-833-DIAL211

Lastly, all residents are reminded, these tools are not a guaranteed source of information, and everyone should be prepared and remain situationally aware.

  • Learn more at ReadyNevadaCounty.org/EmergencyAlerts
  • Follow Office of Emergency services on Twitter @NevCoOES and Facebook @NevadaCountyOES for updates and tips on how to prepare.