Merced gets warning system

Residents across Merced County will know if any natural disaster, threat, hostage situation or imminent danger of fire occurs, thanks to a Web-based application that will be used in times of emergencies.

An agreement for CodeRED telephone emergency notification system with the Merced County Office of Emergency Services was approved this week by the Merced City Council.

Certain county and city officials have the authority to send notification messages to residents' phones.

Priority communication calls can be made in times of severe weather conditions, natural disasters, terrorism threats, bomb threats, Amber alerts and more.

CodeRED is funded by the State Homeland Security Grant, according to the report.