CodeRed alerts activated to remind residents of Stay Home, Stay Healthy order

KENNEWICK, Wash.-- For many in the Tri-Cities, cell phones started ringing and buzzing at about 6:00 p.m. Tuesday night as the Benton and Franklin County Emergency Management agencies sent out an alert.

The alert reminded residents about Governor Jay Inslee's Stay Home Stay Safe order, requiring Washingtonians to stay home except for buying groceries, attending medical appointments, and going to jobs with essential functions.

"You have to sign up, that's the only way to use it,"said Cpt. Brian Ellis with the Kennewick Fire Department. "You'll be able to put in your phone number, your location in the cities, and if there's an emergency that requires a lot of people to be notified at one time, that's the best way to do it at this time."

Code Red is an “opt-in” electronic telephone notification system allowing residents in both Benton & Franklin Counties to be notified personally in the unlikely event of an emergency.  You will be notified by automated telephone message, email, or text.

You can enroll for this FREE system by clicking on the CodeRED logo on your county’s website.  If you have questions about the test, you can contact your county’s emergency management office.  In Benton County, call (509) 628-2600; in Franklin County, call (509) 545-3546.

Benton County: www.bces.wa.gov

Franklin County: www.franklinem.org