Signing up for emergency notifications from the town has gotten even easier — residents can now sign up ro receive local CodeRED messages over their cell phones.

Those interested can sign up by simply texting "Newtown" to 99411.

This system allows the Emergency Communications Center to provide information to the community in the event of an emergency.

"We always want people to sign up for CodeRED," said Newtown Emergency Communications Center Director of Communications Maureen Will. "Now that people can use their phone, it's nice and easy."

Will told The Newtown Bee on March 29 that the emergency management department uses CodeRED "very judiciously."

"We know if people see a call from CodeRED, they get nervous," Will said. "If we are making a CodeRED call, it's very important information."

Types of notifications residents can expect include information on storms that are expected to possibly damage the town's infrastructure or residents personal property or when residents should shelter in place, power outages affecting significant parts of the town, targeted notifications to certain areas for missing children or missing persons, criminal activity and fires.

Will said that First Selectman Dan Rosenthal also used CodeRED to release information on the COVID-19 pandemic when it was at its worst.

Rosenthal said that CodeRED is a "great tool for keeping the community informed on critical issues." He said when he last checked, 21,000 phone numbers were registered for Newtown's CodeRED alerts. He believes that the town should push CodeRED from time to time to get more people to sign up and be in the know about things that are "critical and time sensitive."

"I'm glad people can now do it [sign up] on their phones," said Rosenthal.

Will also wanted to assure residents that OnSolve, the company that owns CodeRED, will never sell their personal information or release their phone number. While those signing up are asked to accept an agreement allowing CodeRED to contact them and allowing them to receive information from the town, that information is not given to any outside parties.

"CodeRED is safe, secure and works very well," said Will.

Will said that the town has utilized CodeRED for 15 to 16 years, and in her previous job in Brookfield, it was also utilized there.

Residents can also register online at https://public.coderedweb.com/CNE/en-US/2F56F3CC3E96.

For more information, contact the Will at 203-270-4296.