Sign up for emergency alerts
Sign up for BOCO Alert
The Boulder County Sheriff’s Office and Louisville Police Department use BOCO Alert to notify residents about emergencies, such as imminent threats to health and safety. This can include the need to evacuate due to wildfire, or to take other appropriate actions due to flash flood or other critical police activity.
Alerts can be received by phone call or text message (cell, home and work phones) and/or email. If you don’t sign up, you will only receive an emergency notification on your traditional landline home phone (if you have one). These notifications can take longer depending on call volume.
You can sign up for cell phone and email alerts and edit your profile to add an address for your home, place of work, schools, etc., so you can receive alerts for a variety of locations that may have importance to you.
Everbridge Resident Connection has recently been added to the system. 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 set. However, Resident Connection is NOT a substitute for opting into messages. Sign up or update your profile today.
- How to Stay Informed with Emergency Alerts (English)
- How to Stay informed with Emergency Alerts (Spanish)
- Understanding Emergency Alerting System (English)
- Understanding Emergency Alerting System (Spanish)
Learn more: Boulder Office of Emergency Management's Alert & Warning
Emergency alert translation
The ReachWell translation app is 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 all emergency notifications sent via Everbridge.
Additionally, Google Translate is available on all Boulder Office of Emergency Management (BOEM) webpages. Click the dropdown menu, 'Select Language' in the upper right-hand corner of the website and select your preferred language.
All Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) messages will be translated for community members and visitors that set their mobile device preferred language to Spanish.
Wireless Emergency Alerts
Boulder County has launched a new emergency alert capability that can send Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs) to the public. These messages will light up all enabled cell phones in a specific geographic area with sounds and text, similar to Amber Alerts and National Weather Service emergency notices, without requiring users to opt-in or subscribe to the service.
It is important to know that the length and level of details in a WEA message depends on the type of cell phone a user has. Additionally, notices may reach a wider geographic audience than those immediately at risk due to limitations of the system.
It’s important to remember that while these tools are essential to preventing loss of life during an emergency, it is important to notify family, friends and neighbors during a potential situation and to anticipate door-to-door evacuations from police and fire if needed. Your safety is our top priority.
Sirens
Outdoor warning sirens
Outdoor warning sirens provide those who are outdoors and in high-risk areas with audible alerts for flash flood warnings, tornado warnings, or upon request from first responders for imminent life threats. The sirens will broadcast a voice message immediately following the siren signal to inform the public of the situation and what actions should be taken. Outdoor warning sirens are not intended to reach you if you are indoors.
Hi/Lo Evacuation Siren: “When you hear Hi‑Lo, it’s time to go.”
The Hi/Lo siren is a distinct two‑tone alert used only when immediate evacuation is necessary. Law enforcement will activate the patrol vehicle siren while driving through impacted neighborhoods to notify residents directly, even when cell service, internet connectivity, or power are disrupted.
The Hi/Lo siren does not replace existing alert tools; it adds a reliable, on‑the‑ground method to reach people during fast‑moving emergencies such as wildfires, flash floods, hazardous materials incidents, or major law enforcement operations.
When residents hear the Hi/Lo siren:
- Evacuate immediately
- Follow instructions from responders
- Monitor official alerts
- Don’t wait for confirmation if conditions worsen
An audio example of what the Hi/Lo siren sounds like is available.
Current Emergency status
The Boulder Office of Emergency Management posts updates on all current high-impact emergency situations in Boulder County.