CodeRED emergency alert app clarification
Sundays hail storm has left quite a few people in Yellowstone County less than impressed with the CodeRED notification system.I dont get why they dont just accept that they dropped the ball. They were put in place to warn the people of yellowstone county and they failed. The only warnings that went off was social media and various other weather apps. Besides the warning that came across the tv 30 min AFTER the storm ended. CodeRed failed, plain and simple. Most people cant even log into the app with an error popping up.
Every single time I attempt to log in I get an error code. This app simply doesn't work. Come on, Commissioners, let's call this one.
I can't even sign up.
Just another waste of taxpayer dollars.
So what do people do if they don’t have a cell phone or are working outside at the time of a storm alert? I’m late to the party apparently since I no longer live in Billings.... this is the weirdest thing I’ve ever heard of!
Dont fucking work , nice job billings
This app doesnt work plus have to pay for it. Im paying for an app that doesnt work 98% of the time.
What about the homeless with no phone? Honestly the worst idea to make people use an app! Apps fail all the time we should not depend on an app for our safety🤦🏻♀️ we could of used the money on something more pressing 💁🏻♀️
It worked just fine for me.
Except when it doesn’t work..... Just to make sure, I texted yellowstoneI was already opted in.Received no code red for that storm coming in on Sunday
***update***
As I understand it, the app is still not perfect, however the app is free IF you register via the Yellowstone county website. Thank you for some elected officials (Chris Friedel) who hopped on here and got that info to everyone. This is still a issue however that I see moving forward. The sirens would not have alerted this last storm, but we still have not fully vetted this system as a PRIMARY means of altering.
We remain skeptical. However when the chips fall, we will be ready to fix whatever mother nature throws. Keep an eye to the sky. And remember to follow NWSBillings on Facebook and Twitter, they keep us informed on severe weather and fire weather. There are some awesome storm chasers based here in town too. Check em out.
We have to agree...I don't believe code red is a safe way to replace the emergency sirens. If you didn't recieve a code red alert for the major storm, call your county commissioners. This pay to stay safe model stinks.**Warning, this is a rant**
I don't have CodeRed on my phone but for science I downloaded it. YOU HAVE TO PAY A SUBSCRIPTION FOR WEATHER ALERTS.You get one month free then you have to pay. Absolute bulls**t. Putting people's lives behind a paywall is disgusting and wrong. CodeRed is a great addition to warnings but putting it as the primary system for a price is awful.
I did some research and the strategic plan says, "The siren system costs, on average $20,000 annually. The system receives approximately $15,000 in maintenance every year through a maintenance contract. Utility costs to operate the siren system are approximately $5,000 annually and approximately every 20 years the radios used to activate each siren must also be replaced"
$20,000 a year for Montana's most populous city/county. THAT IS POCKET CHANGE. That is not "significant costs."
So just to put this into perspective. the county is saving $20,000 a year while the people of Yellowstone County have to pay $160,000 a year to a private company, if that doesn't make you angry I don't know what will.
200 people have signed up for severe weather alerts in Yellowstone county and that is deemed enough to axe sirens, wow.
Share this with your friends, let's fix this!
#SirensInBillings
I don't like the data collection the county is doing. Records they collect are subject to open records laws. Did you want more spam? How about telemarketing calls? Maybe some SMS solicitation?
We couldn’t hear the sirens where we are by Skyview, so I was hopeful for a change. After reading all the issues people had I think I’ll just stick to the weather channel app
I would tend to agree. Not to mention, there are people who don't have smart phones to load an app onto, or can't afford to pay the fee for it. They're at risk even if it worked. Then there are times you don't have your phone on you, or near you. You forgot or left it at home, in the car , at work. Maybe it's off because you're at work or any number of reasons? In a variety of instances, you'd miss the alert even if it worked.
I registered months ago with my phone number and it was not apparently clear that it had to be accompanied with the app. I was upset to learn afterward about the tornado warning as my family would have taken different safety precautions
Denis Pitman I am registered and never received the warnings. I even texted Yellowstone to the number thinking I did something wrong when registered but it said I was all signed up😡
I think it is a waste of taxpayers money...and at the end of the day, I really don't see this being a benefit... this was not thought through very well... and I agree with many others... there are people who do not have smartphones or access to any... I don't see this saving lives...instead I see it destroying them. At least with the sirens, we can get a better warning... why not set the app up to work in conjunction with the sirens, if you really must use the app...but in such a way that EVERYONE has the same opportunity to be warned when natural disasters happen... use some of that stashed money that is sitting idle somewhere or being used for needless things and UPDATE THE SIRENS...and bring them back...
Someone’s going to get hurt or worse. That’s the only way they’ll care. A 3 million dollar lawsuit might make them rethink the measly $20,000 fee. Ya know....politics. 🙄
Never signed up for it so I received no warning. :(
Agree!
I am signed up but when I go into the app now it has all this weird message on it, then when you click ok it says that what we signed up for isn't associated with the app, real nice warning program, it's a bunch of B.S.
Agree with all above. the sirens were put in place because of all the deaths that happened because people were not warned--Most elderly don't have phones that can take a app and don't know how to use one and are hard of hearing--but can hear the loud sirens. Every homeowner in this county pays enough property taxes to support that system. It is time for people to matter more than money.
I see this is a hot button issue... Has anyone seen a KULR8 News , KTVQ , or Billings Gazette news story since the big storm? I think the citizens are anxious to know what is going to be done to address this.
Kelly Foos Stacy Galvin
I want the air raid sirens. They command attention in a way that phones do not.
Always about the dollar! The wealthy stay safe? C'mon, most elderly hate the cell phones as is!! Some parents still have flip phones! This pay to stay safe is not ok, EVER!!
I'm not saying I am 100% sold on code red. BUT I also dont recall the emergency sirens being set off for a hailstorm or any other weather watch. Am I incorrect?
No one had cell service during the storm at the fairgrounds so even if I had the app it wouldn't have worked. I am sure the co. commissioners and city county planning are trying to save money to get another gravel pit up and going...
Nope, you are correct Randi. The warnings were out there, released by the NWS.
ANOTHER reason we need to vote yes for the safety levy! This stuff doesn't come free and we are spread so thin.
Yellowstone DES fail.... bring back sirens
My question is if the county owns the metra and sells advertising rights to rimrock and then first Interstate bank and charges out the wazoo for consessions and tickets...where does all that money go? Can't tell me it's all in upkeep and salaries🤔. Can't tell me $20,000 can't be afforded for this system
Denis Pitman, please fix this.😊
Where I live we can't hear the siren's. I was hoping the app. Would work. It doesn't. I never got no warning. If I didn't have the TV on in the garage we would never would have know about the storm.
We still need the air raid sirens please
I have it downloaded but having trouble signing up even! I get my alerts from other weather apps
We'll just leave this here. For those that knew this Billings icon, a great read.
Grab a huge mug and take a second.
It's nice to hear a different side of Snowbird and it makes me happy to know he had some good people watching out for him.
Rest In Peace, Eddie.
SonsSo sad, he will be missed. Good people apparently watched over him.❤
Karina Alejandra Garcia Lulu Corchado
He truly was an icon to the City of Billings! May he rest in peace and his loved one's find comfort!
Godspeed, Snowbird! 🚔🚔🚔
Todd Berg
Hugo F Galle IV
Angelo Garza .... your tio!(uncle)
Snow bird was a great guy who alwaus had a smile on his face for everyone he passed or stopped to say hello too. He will be greatly missed
Dennis Nemitz
Loved reading this
Was he the guy on the bike?
God bless you
Rip
RIP Eddie
RIP Snowbird! He really was a unique addition to the law enforcement and downtown community. It won't be the same without him. He'll always be on watch!!
RIP Snowbird.
RIP Snowbird...carry on up there and look upon your city guys sometimes too
The IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery is a one-of-a-kind addiction treatment facility specializing in PTSD for IAFF members – and IAFF members only – who are struggling with addiction, PTSD other related behavioral health challenges to receive the help they need in taking the first steps toward recovery. It is a safe haven for members to talk with other members who have faced or overcome similar challenges.
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