BENTON COUNTY, Wash. – The Benton County Emergency Management team uses a variety of tools, including social media and website updates, to keep residents informed. However, for quick emergency notifications, they have a different approach.
Benton County has implemented a mass notification system known as Code Red to connect with limited English-speaking populations.
“When residents sign up for Code Red, they can choose their primary language,” said Deanna Davis, manager for Benton County Emergency Management.
Code Red is available in four languages: English, Spanish, Russian, and Chinese. It is used by many counties across the U.S. to notify residents through app notifications, text messages, and phone calls, ensuring they receive the most current information.
In case translations fail, Benton County Emergency Management has a backup plan in place.
“We have a just in time contract with an interpretive service ‘Dynamic Language’ in the event that we can’t get those translators,” Davis said. “Right now it’s a 24/7, 365 contract via telephone. We just call them up, and they help us translate.”
You can download code red here of by texting BCEM to 99411.
