ROCKPORT — Rockport may soon become the third Cape Ann community to employ a "reverse 911" system to notify its residents of emergency situations via mass phone calls.
Rockport Police Chief Tom McCarthy and Sgt. Mark Schmink have led the effort to have the system installed in Rockport for the past several years.
"We've been looking into it for some time and proposed it quite a while ago," McCarthy said, Friday. "Because of the initial equipment and annual maintenance costs (estimated four years ago), the town elected not to go that route."
However, advancements in technology and increasing competition have lowered prices, officials said.
The annual cost of the so-called CodeRED, or reverse 911, system being considered by Rockport is approximately $4,000 to $5,000.
"If it's something the Board of Selectmen wants to do, we'll definitely get it done as soon as possible," said Selectmen Chairman Andrew Heinze Friday afternoon. "We'll look to see if the money can be found in this year's budget."
Rockport's Board of Selectmen will discuss the proposal at its meeting tomorrow night, which is scheduled to begin at approximately 7:15 p.m. in Conference Room A, Town Hall.
According to officials, representatives from the company are willing to appear before selectmen at a future meeting to give a presentation on how the system works.
CodeRED allows emergency officials to send recorded messages to all homes and businesses, or just a targeted area, within seconds. The messages inform residents of the situation and, if necessary, provide instructions for action.
The high volume and high speed communication service employs a unique geographical-based system capable of dialing 60,000 phone numbers per hour. It can deliver the pre-recorded message to a live person or an answering machine.
Neighboring Gloucester and Manchester already have CodeRED emergency notification systems in place.
Gloucester employed the service during last year's boil-water order and was prepared to use it on Friday if evacuations became necessary as a result of Hurricane Earl.
"Once the situation is remedied, another call is placed to the area signaling that the issue has been addressed and that normal activities can be resumed," according to the Gloucester's website.
The "reverse 911" mass calling system used by Gloucester officials is similar to the one used by the city's school district to communicate school closings and schedule changes to parents and teachers.
"Gloucester uses it with great success and so does Manchester," McCarthy said. "It's proved to be very reliable; and not just for police, it can be used by the DPW, Selectmen, or school officials during snow emergencies — we'd all have success."
Jonathan L'Ecuyer can be reached at 978-283-7000 x 3451 or jlecuyer@gloucestertimes.com.
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