What is LookoutAlert?

LookoutAlert is the official emergency notification system of a regional collaborative of Jefferson County and all cities within it, the City and County of Broomfield and the City of Westminster. This system is used to send alerts to the public during emergencies. LookoutAlert is a free service that allows you to sign-up online to receive customized alerts via text message, email, voice message. This service is provided at no cost to the public; however, message and data rates may apply.

Why should I sign-up for LookoutAlert?

When emergencies happen, be the first to know. Through LookoutAlert, emergency responders are able to send official, real-time alerts to the public with information about potentially life-saving actions they may need to take to keep themselves and their families safe. As part of LookoutAlert, you can also sign up for Smart911, which allows you to create a safety profile for yourself and your household which is provided directly to 9-1-1 when you call 9-1-1 in the event of an emergency, allowing them to send the right responders to the right location with the right information. By signing up for LookoutAlert, you are taking a large step toward improving your personal safety.

How does the LookoutAlert system work?

When an emergency occurs that meets the criteria for sending out an alert to the public, emergency dispatchers will gather the necessary information and send out an alert to the affected area. Alerts can be sent out region-wide to everyone who has opted-in to the system, or to a specific area or neighborhood for more localized events.

How much does it cost?

This service is provided at no cost to the public; however, message and data rates may apply depending on your provider and phone services.

During the sign-up process you have the option to choose how you want to be notified and what types of alerts to receive. For any notification you choose to receive, you can specify whether you want text message, email, voice delivery – or any combination of these.

To avoid being charged frequent pay-per-text or pay-per-call fees by your phone service provider, you can select only the types of messages you prefer – for example, selecting email only as the delivery type – or opt-in for ‘emergency alerts’ (which are infrequent in typical usage).

Why do I need LookoutAlert when I have TV, social media and a radio to keep me informed?

LookoutAlert serves as another tool to keep the public informed during emergencies. By signing up for LookoutAlert, the public can receive real-time alerts directly on their preferred devices (text message, voice message and email).

Why was LookoutAlert implemented when we already had CodeRED?

The regional collaborative is always looking for new ways to improve the safety of our residents. With LookoutAlert in place, first responders have the ability to send a mass notification to all landlines and residents who have opted-in with important information that could save lives.

LookoutAlert helps fill another safety gap within the Jeffcom dispatch center. During large-scale emergencies, the 911 center can be quickly overwhelmed with a high volume of 911 calls received from the public. A majority of the 911 calls received during emergencies are not about life-threatening situations, but rather contain requests for information about what is going on during a crisis or emergency. By sending alerts directly to the public on their preferred devices, we will keep the public informed and at the same time reduce the number of 911 calls from residents not in immediate need of emergency services. Easily available and authoritative public information will improve the 911 center’s ability to keep phone lines open to respond to critical emergencies.

Can you guarantee that I will receive notification if I register for LookoutAlert?

While LookoutAlert is an excellent system, we cannot guarantee that you will receive notification in all cases. Disasters and emergencies are chaotic and unpredictable, and notification is dependent on external providers such as your wireless carrier or email delivery service outside of our control. LookoutAlert will use several means of communications to try to ensure that should any one communications method, technology, or delivery option be unavailable to reach residents, other methods will be used to improve the likelihood that residents will see the message.