Garfield County Emergency Communications Authority

We’ve had lots of questions about the #GarCo911 Emergency Alerting System, so here’s what you should know:

Purpose – Alerts are sent only for serious threats to life or safety, when you need to take action (evacuate, shelter in place, avoid an area). The only exception is opt-in community messages like road closures or air quality updates. Alerts are not for general updates or information.

How It Works – Using geotargeting, alerts go to people with addresses in their Everbridge account identified as being affected by responders on scene. This may be a radius from an address or a shape drawn onto a map to capture specific roads, subdivisions, or areas described by responders.

Caller ID Tip – Messages won’t show “911” on caller ID. Save the number that sends you alerts in your contacts as GarCo911 so you recognize it.

IPAWS Alerts – Like Amber Alerts, these target phones near an incident using cell towers. It’s not perfect—some outside the area may get them, some inside may not. Make sure Emergency and Public Safety Alerts are ON in your phone settings.

Read the Whole Message – We always include location details so you can tell if it affects you.

No Service or Internet? – IPAWS alerts also play on AM radio via the National Weather Service.