Now, because they have a new vendor taking over Saturday that offers essentially the same service, the county is asking residents to sign up all over again.
Several companies provide alert services to governments. And often they're reluctant to share, citing privacy and contractual issues. The existing CodeRED database of users could easily transfer to the new vendor, Massachussets-based Everbridge, which operates the new system, Delco Alert.
But David DiGiacomo, president of Florida-based Emergency Communications Network, which operates CodeRED, refuses to do so because his firm offered confidentiality when people signed up.
Almost all of those who signed up for CodeRED checked a box stating they didn't want their information shared with a third party, which would apparently include their own municipality.
"I'm kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place," said DiGiacomo. "If I break my agreement with 20,000 people, they're upset. If I don't, we look like the bad guys who don't want to release it."
If the user data is given to Delaware County, it would become a public record. Anyone, including marketing firms, could freely access it, said DiGiacomo. If the list is transferred to Everbridge, a third party, a contractual agreement with each user would be broken, he said.
DiGiacomo said providing Everbridge an encrypted version, meanwhile, could jeopardize proprietary secrets about how CodeRED operates.
The day after the Dispatch spoke with DiGiacomo, a CodeRED employee sent the county contact information for those who didn't check the privacy box — 124 people.
"Quite frankly, I'm not sure how helpful that information will be," said Sean Miller, director of Delaware County Emergency Management Agency.
Even with the expected drop-off in users, Miller said the switch will be worth it. Everbridge has said it will transfer its data if the county chooses a new vendor.
"We are always trying to provide the best services as efficiently as we can. We felt this would be a good move," Miller said.
In addition to countywide alerts, the new system can send internal notifications to deploy a police tactical team, or let managers know that the county's warming center is available for the homeless.
The Delco Alert name will also be an advantage, said Miller. "People will know where the alerts are originating from. And that will hopefully provide a sense of trust."
The county dropped CodeRED's tornado warning component last May, saying the notifications were too slow to be practical. CodeRED at the time blamed cellphone carriers, such as Verizon and AT&T, for the delays.
But the county still used the company's alerts for other emergencies, such as missing children, active shooters, jail escapees and boil-water alerts. That will end Saturday.
In the past two days, since the county announced the transition, about 4,000 people have signed up for the new system, most having received a message through the CodeRED system to do so.
"It's a little concerning because those people essentially (already) had it," said Patrick Brandt, the county's emergency communications director.
The passage of the countywide 911 levy in November frees up funding for new technology. The new system, at $20,000 annually, will actually cost less than the CodeRED system. But it will not send out phone calls.
The changeover comes just as tornado season approaches, and tornado sirens remain a concern for some.
Many in fast-growing southern Delaware County, especially in Orange Township, have no nearby sirens.
These dead zones are one reason the county is pushing the notification system, weather radios and Wireless Emergency Alerts, a nationwide system similar to Amber Alerts.
"These days, everyone has a phone with them," Miller said.
To register, go to www.co.delaware.oh.us and click on the DELCO ALERT link. For questions call 740-833-2180.
©2017 The Columbus Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio), Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
