Anderson County authorities said a CodeRED alert helped locate a missing child on Friday. The Anderson County Sheriff’s Department explains in the press release below.
Anderson County Sheriff’s Department deputies were called to a home on Hinds Creek Road on Friday, May 5, shortly before 11 a.m. on a report of a missing child. A four-year-old boy had wandered away from home, apparently with the family dog. An intensive search began using Sheriff’s K-9 teams including bloodhounds, law enforcement officers from the Sheriff’s Department and other local police agencies, and emergency personnel from several area fire and rescue agencies.
Anderson County Sheriff’s Communications sent a CodeRED alert to residents living in the area to inform them of the missing child. This alert went to all landline telephones within a five-mile radius of where the child went missing. It also would have been sent to anyone who lived in that area and had signed up for CodeRED for their wireless telephone or text messages.
Someone staying with a resident of Hickory Valley Road had received the CodeRED notification of the missing child on their home telephone and called to report a child (with a dog) came to the home and knocked on the door. From the CodeRED alert, he immediately knew this was the missing child. Deputies and EMS (emergency medical services) responded there and found the child to be safe and sound with only minor scratches. He was checked by EMS and reunited with his parents.
The CodeRED Emergency Notification System is a fast communication service allowing Anderson County to notify citizens of an emergency situation. It enables the the county to provide mass notification quickly and easily. The service is free to all county residents and businesses located within our boundaries. This service is available to all Anderson County residents living in the rural areas of the county as well as Oak Ridge, Clinton, Norris, Oliver Springs, and Rocky Top.
CodeRED allows officials to telephone all or targeted areas of the county in case of an emergency situation that requires immediate action, such as an evacuation, contaminated water, hazardous chemical spill, etc. This system is capable of dialing the entire county within minutes, delivering a pre-recorded message describing the situation, including instructions on any actions needed to remain safe.
While a calling data base has been created by extracting information from computerized files and other public record sources, it is certain that not all phone numbers of residents and residential and business property owners within the county were entered. We ask that you help us update this information for your benefit.
If you reside or own property within the boundaries of Anderson County and would like to receive CodeRED emergency messages, you may signup at the link below. IMPORTANT: USE YOUR PHYSICAL ANDERSON COUNTY 911 ADDRESS. DO NOT USE POST OFFICE OR OUT OF TOWN ADDRESSES. Should you at anytime desire to be removed from the calling list, you may do so by calling the Anderson County Emergency Communications District at (865) 463-8160.
https://public.coderedweb.com/cne/en-US/9810FBCC5C0D
We are thankful that the child was found safe and grateful for all of the assistance we received from our local public safety agencies. The CodeRED alert was most beneficial in helping us locate the missing chiled.
For more information on CodeRED, visit https://ecnetwork.com/.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
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