NATCHEZ — Notification of dangerous weather is just a phone call away.

Starting today Natchez and Adams County residents will have the option to be notified by phone when potentially dangerous weather is headed into the area.

Today marks the first day residents will have the opportunity to opt into the CodeRED Weather Warning system, Adams County Emergency Management Director Stan Owens said.

“There’s really no reason not to sign up,” Owens said. “It’s easy, it’s free and it could help to save your life. Everyone should sign up.”

The new CodeRED system is essentially a massive database compiled of phone numbers and addresses.

As soon as the National Weather Service issues a weather advisory that pertains to a phone number or address in the database, the phone numbers in the impacted area are automatically called.

When the call is answered an automated warning is given to the person on the other end.

And while the system is easy to use, those who want to be notified must opt in to the system.

“If you want to be part of the system you have to sign up,” Owens said. “No one is automatically in the program. Everyone has to opt in.”

Owens said signing up for the system is easy and takes only minutes.

To sign up for weather warning calls simply visit the Adams County Web site at www.adamscountyms.gov.

Once at the Web site, simply click on the CodRed logo and follow the prompts.

“It’s very easy,” Owens said.

But those who are not Web savvy shouldn’t don’t worry, Owens said.

Owens will sign up any interested participants that call his office at 601-442-7021.

Homes and businesses are eligible, and cell phones can also be entered as primary contact numbers.

More that one number per household can be entered in the database, Owens said.

Once operational, the system is capable of calling 60,000 per hour to issue warnings.

“But no one should assume they’re in the system,” Owens said.

“If you haven’t registered, you’re not in there.”

Adams County Supervisor Darryl Grennell implored county and city residents to sign up for the system.

“Any advanced warning we can get in a dangerous weather situation, especially when there’s a possibility of tornadoes, is something we need to utilize,” Grennell said. “Everyone should just sign up.”

But Owens cautioned that while the system will call with warnings, residents must still be prepared for any foul weather headed their way.

“You need to always be award of your surroundings,” he said.