INKSTER, Mich. When a water main breaks on your street, a boil water notice goes out or a storm is headed our way, the City of Inkster can now reach you directly on your phone. But only if you sign up.

Mayor Byron Nolen is pointing residents to it. When Inkster Now! publisher Emory Stevens offered in a public Facebook exchange on Thursday to help the city share updates with residents, the mayor replied, "absolutely," and asked: "Are you subscribed to Inkster's code red system?" Consider this our answer, and our reminder to every Inkster household: sign up.

The city's official emergency notification system is called CodeRED, and it is run for the city by the alert company OnSolve. It is free, it is voluntary, and it takes about a minute to join.

Sign up in one step

Text INKSTERALERTS to 24639.

Or register online at cityofinkstermi.gov/659/CodeRED to add more phone numbers, your email and the addresses you want to monitor.

What kind of alerts you will get

According to the City of Inkster, CodeRED alerts can include:

  • Emergency events
  • Water boil alerts
  • Weather alerts
  • Building closures
  • Safety messages
  • Scam warnings
  • Government news and other critical information

Those are the moments when hearing it secondhand is not good enough. On Oct. 21, for example, the city posted a notice about two water main breaks near Middlebelt Road and Annapolis Avenue, warning of low water pressure and discolored water. Alerts like that are exactly what CodeRED is built to deliver.

How the alerts reach you

You choose how you want to be contacted. CodeRED can send alerts by:

  • Phone call to your home, work or cell phone
  • Text message
  • Email
  • TDD for residents who are deaf or hard of hearing
  • The free CodeRED Mobile Alert app, available for iPhone and Android

Two ways to sign up

1. Text to join. Text INKSTERALERTS to 24639 and follow the prompts. This is the quickest option.

2. Create an account online. Go to the city's CodeRED page and click the CodeRED logo to register. All you need is an email address and a phone number. The city recommends creating a managed account, which lets you:

  • Update your contact information any time
  • Pick which kinds of alerts you want
  • Add addresses to monitor, such as your home, a parent's house or your workplace

Is my information safe?

The city says that it and OnSolve will use your information only for emergency notifications and will not share it. Registration happens over a secure, encrypted connection.

One honest note from the city: signing up does not guarantee you will receive every alert, so keep your contact information current and keep an eye on official city channels too.

Help a neighbor sign up

Many of the people who most need these alerts are the least likely to find them on their own. If you have an elderly parent, a neighbor without internet or a family member who does not use social media, take a minute to help them text INKSTERALERTS to 24639, or add their address to your own account.

Other ways to stay informed

  • City news and alerts by email: Subscribe to the city's News Flash and Alert Center at cityofinkstermi.gov/list.aspx.
  • Water emergencies: Report a water main break or other water problem to the Department of Public Services at 313-563-9774.
  • Inkster Now!: We report breaking news inside the city limits as soon as we can confirm it. Sign up for The Inkster Weekly, free every Monday, and join our Facebook group.

Source: City of Inkster, CodeRED community emergency notification enrollment.