Emergency Notification Services

Local governments use a variety of alert systems to keep people informed and prepared for emergencies in the area.

One system used by both Albany County and the City of Laramie is the CodeRED system. CodeRED allows residents to be notified by local emergency response teams in the event of an emergency or need for a critical community alert.

According to Aimee Binning, Emergency Management Coordinator for Albany County, CodeRED can notify residents in cases of any kind of emergency. Things like notifications to shelter in place, evacuations, chemical spills, adverse weather, child abductions or any other emergency are all available with the service. In fact, any evacuation notices due to the current Owen Fire would be notified with the CodeRed service and other means.

CodeRED is a voluntary sign-up program that will only contact people in ways they have approved. The system notifies with automated messages or text messages to phone numbers provided by those who sign up. There is no cost to get these notifications.

Those wanting to sign up for CodeRED can do so at the Albany County website and on the City of Laramie website.

Another notification service used by Albany County is the new SmartPrepare service which is through Smart911. This is also a voluntary sign-up service. SmartPrepare helps officials in planning during emergencies.

“It’s a little bit different because we are not contacting people though that, but it helps us identify people’s needs in case there is an evacuation,” says Binning.

In this program people can enter information such as how many animals they have, ability to shelter in place, and needed assistance in case of an evacuation. It helps agencies in evacuating animals such as livestock and providing food and temporary homes for them. It also helps in planning for those who may have special needs especially in the event of an evacuation.

The SmartPrepare program only collects data provided by those who sign up and is used only for emergency situations.

Those wanting to sign up for SmartPrepare can do so here.

For more information on either of these notification services, contact Aimee Binning at 721-1815 or via email at ABinning@co.albany.wy.us.