“This is an automated Code Red weather warning. Moments ago, the National Weather Service issued a tornado warning for your area.”
That's a portion of the call that went out to residents in the path of last month's tornado that ripped through three Palm Coast neighborhoods.
The call went out just minutes before homes were destroyed, giving people precious time to get ready.
But those few moments are key, said Kevin Guthrie, the Emergency Management Director for Flagler County.
“In many, many times, especially when you're dealing with a tornado, it could be the difference between life and death,” Guthrie said.
Following last month's tornado there were some complaints form people living in other parts of the city that they didn't get a phone call. That's precisely why emergency managers like this system.
Palm Coast Fire Chief Mike Beadle said that keeps the Code Red system from "crying wolf" and making people tune out.
“It only affected the area we needed to notify people of what was going on," Beadle said. :Those outside that area didn't need to know.”
Code Red is a system growing in popularity and is part of Ormond Beach-based Emergency Communications Network. It is also an opt-in system, where you need to register your phone number.
But for extremely important messages, the system can work on a variety of databases, such as utility customers.
And that's why Flagler County and Palm Coast are combining their databases, to make sure no one is left out.
"Having access to all the databases that we have for both the city of Palm Coast and Flagler County, Bunnell, Flagler Beach," Guthrie said. "Sharing that data is going to only strengthen the capabilities of the Code Red system.”
And more people understand that now.
Since the December 14 storm, Guthrie said more than 600 people have signed up.
If you do not have access to a computer, you can call Flagler County's Emergency Operations Center at 386-313-4200.