Get prepared. Sign up for our FREE Community Emergency Response Team training (CERT). You'll learn to help yourself, your family and your neighbors in those first critical hours and days when emergency responders are struggling to get into the area and help. We'll cover techniques for:

• Emergency preparations you can make in your home
• Fire safety (includes an exercise on suppressing a small fire)
• Emergency medical treatment
• Disaster psychology
• Terrorism
• Team organization
• Search & rescue

At the conclusion of the third class there is a disaster simulation exercise in which you will learn to work with and help others.  You must attend all three days to complete the course and receive a certificate.

Watch a video about CERT training 

Who can attend? Open to all individuals and groups, ages 18 and over, up to 40 participants per course.

The CERT class scheduled for March 2020 has been postponed indefinitely due to COVID-19 risks and public health guidelines.  Please check back later for updates on future classes.

Hazard Mitigation

The City of Lakewood is susceptible to a wide-range of hazards, both natural and man-made. Being informed about the hazards that may impact your community and how to mitigate potential impacts can help you and your family take the necessary actions to stay safe during times of emergencies

The Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan is an effort to reduce the impact of natural hazards to citizens and property in Jefferson County. It outlines actions that will mitigate the hazards’ effects and break the cycle of repetitive losses.

Visit the Jefferson County hazard page to review their mitigation plan.

 Emergency Operations Plan

The Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) outlines how natural and man-made disasters will be managed in the City of Lakewood.  The plan is used by all key partner agencies within the City to respond to major emergencies and disasters.

 The EOP was updated and formally adopted in 2019 and can be found here(PDF, 3MB).

CodeRED

The City of Lakewood utilizes CodeRED emergency notifications to allow the Police Department to warn citizens of danger. With CodeRED, the Police Department can call, text, or email, multiple individuals and businesses to warn of dangerous suspects, flood, fire, or chemical spills. Sign up for CodeRED.

If you would like to opt-out of CodeRED messages please contact them directly here.

Social Media

Lakewood communicates daily across several Facebook and Twitter channels. Alerts and emergency information will be shared with followers on these channels:

• City Facebook page
• City Twitter
• Police Twitter

Smart911

Smart911 is a free service with which users create a safety profile by entering vital data they want made available about themselves, their family, their residence and even their pets. Data given can include photos, and information regarding medical conditions, allergies, disabilities and/or special needs, home addresses of cell phone callers and floor plans to name a few.

Create your safety profile by visiting the Smart911 website.

NOAA Weather Radio

A National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio  (NWR) is your single source for comprehensive weather and emergency information. Consisting of a network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from the nearest National Weather Service office, a NWR provides official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  In conjunction with Federal, State, and Local Emergency Managers and other public officials, NWR also broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards – including natural (severe storms or flooding), environmental (such as chemical releases or oil spills), and public safety (such as AMBER alerts or 911 Telephone outages).  You can purchase a NOAA Weather Radio at any general merchandise store or numerous online retailers.

Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS)

The Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) is the nation’s alert and warning infrastructure. IPAWS provides public safety officials with an effective way to alert and warn the public about serious emergencies using the Emergency Alert System (EAS), Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Weather Radio, and other public alerting systems from a single interface.  Learn more about about IPAWS.

The City of Lakewood has a Siren Warning or Public Address system that is composed of 25 siren sites. The sirens are electronically tested monthly and the entire system is audibly tested annually in May. The siren system is intended to warn the outdoor population of natural or man made danger.

When you hear the sirens you should seek shelter immediately and use the following guidelines.

If you are in a structure (residence, school, business, medical facility, etc.):
Go to a pre-designated shelter area such as a safe room, basement, storm cellar, or the lowest building level. If there is no basement, go to the center of an interior room on the lowest level (closet, interior hallway) away from corners, windows, doors, and outside walls. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside. Get under a sturdy table and use your arms to protect your head and neck. Do not open windows.

If you are in a vehicle, trailer, or mobile home:
Get out immediately and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy, nearby building or a storm shelter. Mobile homes, even if tied down, offer little protection from tornadoes.

If you are outside with no shelter:

Once you have reached shelter, you should tune into local news media for additional information. Lakewood’s sirens do not sound an “All Clear” tone, so consult the news media to learn when the danger has lifted.  

Lakewood Emergency Sirens Video

Preparedness 

You don't have to do it alone! These resources provide a wide variety of detailed information to help you get your family, neighborhood or community prepared for emergencies.

• ReadyColorado resources for family emergency plans and much more
• Ready.gov, a wealth of information to help you prepare, plan, and stay informed
• Emergency Preparedness Information and Guide (Jefferson County Sheriff's Office)
• Are You Ready? In-Depth Guide to Preparedness (Federal Emergency Management Agency)

• Individuals with Disabilities or Access & Functional Needs (Ready.gov)
• Accessible Emergency Information, with ASL videos, Braille and large-print documents, and more