Jefferson Township residents and businesses can sign up for notifications of emergencies and weather warnings. There is no fee for the service offered through CodeRed and CodeRed Weather Warning programs.   Through CodeRED, Jefferson Township can alert all residents and businesses in the township, or targeted geographic areas quickly with important information concerning such things as a lost child, road closure, hazardous material spill, or other emergency, and what steps, if any, to take.    The CodeRED system contains landline information for residents derived from public record sources, but by clicking on the link below, and entering contact information, local residents and business employees can be sure that they are included in the database. In addition, residents and employees can sign up for the optional weather warnings issued by the National Weather Service for the Jefferson Township area.    The service is available to Jefferson Township residents who live either in the unincorporated area or in the Reynoldsburg, Gahanna, or Columbus portions of the township.      To sign up for CodeRED emergency messages or CodeRED Weather Warnings, click the link below. Residents must use their street or road address.  To be removed from the calling list, call Jefferson Township at 614-855-4260.   >Click Here to Sign up for CodeRED emergency messages .<   Frequently Asked Questions: CodeRED Emergency and Weather Notification Systems What is CodeRED?   CodeRED Emergency Notification System enables Jefferson Township to quickly notify residents and businesses of emergencies throughout the township or in targeted areas.  There is no charge for the service.   What is CodeRED used for?   CodeRED will be used for significant emergency incidents and events where timely notification of an affected population or geographic area is essential. Examples of such incidents might be drinking water contamination, utility outage, hazardous material spill or gas leak, road closure, evacuation notice, missing person, fires or floods, bomb threat, hostage situation, and other emergency incidents where rapid and accurate notification is essential for life safety.   What are the benefits?   High-speed communications enables Jefferson Township to provide information about a critical situation, what action needs to be taken, if any, and notice of resolution. The township has the availability to target geographic areas or the entire township, depending on the location and nature of the emergency, by phone, cell (voice or text), or e-mail.    How do I sign up?   To receive CodeRED and Weather Warning Calls, you must register your home, cell phone, or business phone number in the CodeRED database.For those who provide e-mail addresses, Jefferson Township has the flexibility to send emergency notices and other important information via e-mail.  If you would like to join the Weather Warning program, check the Weather Warning Box on the Registration Form before you submit.  Weather Warnings are delivered via audio messages to land lines and cell phones only.      How does it work?   CodeRED delivers messages through a high-speed telephone calling system to a phone number on the CodeRED database.  Township staff will access CodeRED via a secure portal on the web.   A "call area" will be marked identifying street addresses.  Telephone numbers will be matched up electronically to these addresses through a geographical information system.  A pre-recorded message will be sent out by telephone with information about the incident and possibly with instructions for action to be taken.    What should I do if I receive a CodeRED message?   *    Listen carefully *    Follow instructions *    Do not hang up until you hear the whole message because the message will not be repeated. *    Call the number on your Caller ID to re-hear the message, if desired. *    DO NOT call 9-1-1 unless instructed to do so (You will only tie up emergency lines.)   What should I do if I don’t receive a message?   Nothing. Your area of the township may not be affected.  However, if your next-door neighbors each received a call, you may wish to re-register your contact information to ensure it is in the database.   Will the system work with cell phones?   Yes, provided that your cell phone number is associated with your Jefferson Township street address.  Registering your cell phone number allows the township to reach you where you are via audio or text messages.   How Do I Register?   The following information is required to add a telephone number into the "CodeRED" database: first and last name, street address, 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 or cellular phone, also can be entered and both the primary and alternate line will be contacted in the event of an emergency.  Users may create an account to manage their calling preferences.   Registering for the hearing impaired   The sign up form 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.   Registering without internet access at home   Residents who do not have internet access at home may visit the Gahanna branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library and use a public computer to register. The Gahanna library is located at 310 Granville Street. Telephone is 614-645-2275. Residents also can register via a computer of a family member or friend.   What is CodeRED Weather Warning? Jefferson Township residents can opt to receive CodeRED Weather Warnings while signing up for CodeRED. The CodeRED Weather Warning automatically calls citizens when severe weather (e.g., 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. >Click Here to Sign up for CodeRED emergency messages <   What message will I receive from CodeRED Weather Warning?   CodeRED Weather Warning automatically delivers a pre-recorded audio alert message directly to phones of residents whose homes are in the projected path of the weather. This can be even more critical if a tornado comes through Jefferson Township during the night, when notices by television and radio broadcasts and sirens are unlikely to be effective. To re-hear the message, call the number on your Caller ID.   How Does CodeRED Weather Warning Work? CodeRED Weather Warning uses polygon warning methodologies based on “Storm Based Warnings” direct from the National Weather Service and contacts only people in the affected areas. CodeRED Weather Warning monitors each NWS bulletin to determine the severity of the warning, the exact area(s) affected, and the predicted path of the threatening storm. CodeRED Weather Warning then creates a calling database of all subscribers within the projected area and path of the severe weather. The calling area database is then immediately submitted to the CodeRED Weather Warning automated calling system.  The system eliminates the need for human intervention to activate warnings, decreasing response times.