Show All Answers

1. How do I register to receive emergency alert notifications on my cell phone?

View Emergency Alert Opt In information and follow the instructions. Three systems from three counties in Erie allows all Erie residents and businesses to be notified of an emergency situation in a variety of ways, including on their cell phones, home and work phones, text messaging and email.

2. What is the best way to be notified of severe weather?

Those who want to receive severe weather alerts as soon as they are issued by the National Weather Service should consider purchasing a NOAA Weather Alert Radio. (NOAA stands for National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.) NOAA Weather Alert radios are available at many Front Range pharmacies and grocery stores. The radios may be programmed to narrow weather alerts for the Erie area by entering in the S.A.M.E. codes for Boulder and Weld counties.

3. How do I know if I'm registered?

Verify by visiting  www.BOCOAlert.org to review the addresses and contact information for receiving alerts. 

4. When will Emergency Alerts be used?

The system will be used to notify residents about imminent threats to health and safety such as the need to evacuate or take other appropriate actions in the emergency events (flash flood, fire, police activity).  

5. Should I wait for an emergency notification before I evacuate or shelter?

If you are aware of a situation occurring in your area, do not wait for a call if you do not feel safe. Take action as you see fit depending on the emergency. The action messages will be worded as an advisory, warning, or order.  

6. What if my phone number or email address change?

If your cell phone, work phone or email or physical address changes, you are responsible for going to the website and updating the information. 

We do receive landline information on a quarterly basis from the cell phone providers, but it’s always a good idea to verify that your preferred landline is in the system.

In addition, Resident Connection is a database of publicly sourced information that aggregates residential and business phone numbers that can be utilized to send out emergency alerts to impacted areas. The phone numbers in this database will automatically receive text messages and voice alerts when an emergency alert is sent, however, Resident Connection is not a substitute for opting into messages at www.BOCOAlert.org .

7. Will my contact information be shared with others?

No. The information that you provide will be used for emergency purposes only. It will not be given to any other vendor or organization or used for any other purpose.

8. If a notification is sent out, is it guaranteed I will receive it if I register

When an emergency alert is activated, the system will make several attempts to reach the registered numbers. Landline and cell phones may be inundated with calls and the provider may not be able to deliver the message. We do not assume legal responsibility for technical difficulties that may result in notification failures. Once an alert leaves the Boulder County system it is the cell phone carriers that decide if the information is sent. 

9. Are there other ways to be notified?

It's always important to have multiple ways of receiving a warning. Also tune in to:

• Social Media (trusted sources): Twitter, Ring, Nextdoor, Facebook, Instagram
• TV
• Family
• Landline phone
• NOAA Weather Radio
• Outdoor Warning Sirens

10. Who do I contact if I'm having difficulties with the opt in?

Please use ErieSubmit app or call the Contact Us hotline at 303-926-2701 to report an issue or get help with registering for Emergency Alerts.

If you need assistance logging in to your Everbridge account, or have specific questions, please email AlertHelp@BoulderCounty.org.

11. What number will the alerts come from?

Emergency alerts will come from the phone number 303-441-1400 or the email 911Alert@bouldercounty.org

We recommend you program these into your contacts on your cell phones. We also suggest you name it something like 'Erie Emergency'. 
Adding the number as a contact will also help avoid call blocking.
Consider also modifying a unique text or ring tone.

*Remember - the non-emergency phone number to reach the Erie Police is 303-441-4444. Please consider saving this as a contact, as 'Police - non emergency'.

12. Who in my household should opt in?

It is recommended that each person who owns a cell phone should create a separate opt-in account with the system. 

Example: a mother, father, brother, sister, grandma would be 5 opt-in accounts for one residence.

13. What about landlines?

The Emergency Alerts through Boulder County are powered by Everbridge.  Everbridge receives data on a quarterly basis from Lumen and Xfinity/Comcast VOIP lines. 

If you have a landline, you will be automatically in the system, but it's always a good idea to verify and customize your preferences. By creating a profile, you can add up to 5 addresses, cell phones, emails, and even a fax number!

14. What about VOIPs?

There are a few key differences between landline and VoIP phone systems. The most obvious difference is that VoIP uses the internet to make calls, while landlines use copper wires. This means that VoIP calls can be made anywhere there’s an internet connection, while landline calls are restricted to certain geographical areas.

It's best to create an opt-in profile and include all manners of preferred communications, be it land lines, cell phones, emails and even a fax number!

15. Are Emergency Alerts translated?

The ReachWell translation app is now available to download and receive emergency alerts in over 100 languages/dialects. Alerts are automatically sent to the app, where users can access the content in their preferred language. Alerts are received by opting into a unique ReachWell group and do not require sharing your location. This application will deliver every notification sent from the Boulder County Communications, Boulder Police and Fire Communications, and Longmont Emergency Communications.

Google Translate is available on all www.BoulderOEM.com web pages. Click on the drop-down menu, “Select Language” in upper right-hand corner of website to select your preferred language.

All Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) messages will be translated for community members and visitors that set their mobile device preferred language to Spanish.

16. Can I view all Emergency Alerts that have been sent?

Emergency alert messages and an interactive map are now automatically posted to the www.BOCOAlert.org website, anytime an emergency alert is sent in Boulder County using the Everbridge software. Each alert will contain a web address to access more information about the specific alert. The entire content of the alert is posted, so people who only received a 90-character message can view the complete content. The alerts and map capture the moment in time when it was sent and do not update as the status changes. As additional alerts are sent, they are posted in chronological order.