Emergency Alerts

Understanding Emergency Alert Terminology

When you receive an emergency alert it’s important to understand the terms and information that are used in it to ensure you take actions to keep yourself safe. The following terms and descriptions provide information about the language used in emergency alerts in Boulder County.

Alert Severity

The following terms go over the different types of alert severity and what each type means:

  • Advisory – Used to share information about an emergency situation that is likely to impact communities.
  • Warning – Used to prepare you to take action, or take immediate action if you need extra time to mobilize.
  • Order – Used when you need to take immediate action due to an imminent life threat.

Alert Actions

The following are the types of directive actions that will be sent in an alert, and their meaning:

  • Climb to higher ground – A directive to move to a location nearby that is higher than your current position.
  • Evacuation – A directive to leave the area immediately.
  • Shelter in Place – A directive to remain indoors until the situation is resolved.
  • Missing/Endangered Person – Information about a missing or endangered person that is shared to increase community awareness.
  • All Clear – Follow-up information issued after officials have determined the hazard no longer presents a threat to the community.

Understanding Emergency Alert Systems

The following chart provides an overview of all of the alert types that may be used in Boulder County in the communities of Boulder, Erie, Jamestown, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, Lyons, Nederland, Superior, Unincorporated Boulder County, and Ward.

Emergency Alerting Systems Flow chart
Emergency Alerting Systems image of person

Automatic/Opt-In

Automatic

Description

Using your senses and intuition, you are always your first alerting system.

How to Get It

Be aware of your environment. If you see, smell, hear, or sense a hazard, make decisions that will ensure your safety and the safety of those around you.

Emergency Alerting Systems Text Message image

Automatic/Opt-In

Opt-in

Description

Text message pushed to cell phones.

How to Get It

Sign-up needed: Create or modify your account at www.BOCOAlert.org.

If you block or screen messages, consider adding 303-441-1400 as a contact in your phone and name the contact “Emergency Alert Opt-In”

Automatic

Description

“Amber Alert style” notifications sent to your cell phone through the Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system when first responders determine a general broadcast is necessary during an imminent life threat.

How to Get It

Ensure Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) are enabled in your cell phone settings.

Automatic

Description

Everbridge Resident Connection is a database of residential and business phone numbers with an associated address in one of BOCO Alert’s jurisdictions.

Everbridge aggregates contact information from various publicly sourced databases which creates an additional list of community members for first responders to notify.

How to Get It

Any cell phones in this database will automatically receive text messages when alerts are sent. Resident Connection is not a substitute for opting in to messages at www.BOCOAlert.org.

Emergency Alerting Systems phone image

Automatic/Opt-In

Opt-in

Description

Voice call to cell phones, landlines or VOIP phones.

How to Get It

Sign-up needed: Create or modify your account at www.BOCOAlert.org.

If you block or screen messages, consider adding 303-441-1400 as a contact in your phone and name the contact “Emergency Alert Opt-In”

Automatic

Description

Voice call to Lumen landlines and Xfinity VOIP phones registered in the communities listed in the document title above.

How to Get It

Lumen landlines and Xfinity VOIP phones are automatically updated in our database quarterly. Phone numbers from any other vendors can be added in your opt-in account. Create or modify your account at www.BOCOAlert.org.

Automatic

Description

Everbridge Resident Connection is a database of residential and business phone numbers with an associated address in one of BOCO Alert’s jurisdictions.

Everbridge aggregates contact information from various publicly sourced databases which creates an additional list of community members for first responders to notify.

How to Get It

Any cell phone numbers, landlines, and VOIP phones in this database will automatically receive a voice call when alerts are sent. Resident Connection is not a substitute for opting in at www.BOCOAlert.org.

Emergency Alerting Systems apps image

Automatic/Opt-In

Opt-in

Description

Everbridge Public Safety App

How to Get It

Download the Everbridge Public Safety App to access alert message content and maps. If location services are enabled in the app, you will receive an alert when your cell phone enters Apps an active incident zone.

Opt-in

Description

ReachWell Translation App Alerts are automatically sent to ReachWell Translation App, where users can access the content in over 100 languages. Alerts are received by opting into a unique ReachWell group and do not require sharing your location. Users will receive all alerts issued in all cities and towns in Boulder County.

How to Get It

Download the ReachWell App and search for “BOCO Alert” to utilize translation options and receive alerts without sharing your location.

Users will need to read the alert to determine if it applies to their current location.

Emergency Alerting Systems weather app image

Automatic/Opt-In

Automatic for Flash Flood and Tornado Warnings

Description

Due to immediate safety concerns during flash floods and tornados, opt-in account holders will receive information to all voice, text and email contacts if one of their addresses is within the area defined
by the National Weather Service.

How to Get It

Create an opt-in account at www.BOCOAlert.org.

Emergency Alerting Systems email image

Automatic/Opt-In

Opt-in

Description

Alert sent to e-mail.

How to Get It

Sign-up needed: Create or modify your account at www.BOCOAlert.org.

Emergency Alerting Systems TV image

Automatic/Opt-In

Automatic

Description

Alert sent to AM/FM radio listeners and broadcast TV viewers through the Emergency Alert System (EAS) when
first responders determine a general broadcast is necessary during an imminent life threat.

How to Get It

May be received by anyone listening to AM/FM radio, or watching broadcast TV.

Emergency Alerting Systems outdoor siren image

Automatic/Opt-In

Automatic

Description

Outdoor audible alert for flash flood warnings, tornado warnings, or upon request from first responders for other imminent life threats.

How to Get It

Sirens are located throughout some communities: Central and South Boulder, Eldorado Springs, Erie, Jamestown, Lafayette, Louisville, Lyons, and Superior.