Siren deactivation information

The sirens are not the most effective way to communicate emergencies to residents, and they have reached their life expectancy, making them difficult to maintain and repair. The sound of the siren is often lost over distance or because of background noise. The spoken message that follows the siren blast also provides no specific information about the emergency, requiring those outdoors to seek further information elsewhere. The message often can’t be understood by those who are outside.

In the 21^st century, it’s time to use modern technology to warn the public of emergencies. It’s easier to understand what the emergency is when you get a text, email or phone call. Sign up in five minutes today for LookoutAlert at Lakewood.org/Emergency.

LookoutAlert is the official emergency notification system for the City of Lakewood and all cities within Jefferson County. Through LookoutAlert, emergency responders can provide emergency and public safety messages in real-time with information about potentially lifesaving actions to keep you and your family safe.

It has enhanced capabilities that allows you to choose how and what emergency information you’d like to receive. You can pick what alerts you want to receive including for severe weather, flooding, wildfire, safety risks, emergencies or by location. You can also select to be notified by text, email, voice message or a combination of all three.

Yes, Jeffcom911, the regional emergency communications center that dispatches first responders throughout Jefferson County including Lakewood Police and West Metro Fire Rescue, has launched a dedicated LookoutAlert Assistance Line to help with the registration process for those who need it. Call the LookoutAlert Assistance Line 720-230-2270 to leave your name and phone number. Voicemails are monitored regularly, and a representative will return your call within one-two business days to help you complete your registration.

Yes, you need to sign up for LookoutAlert because CodeRed is no longer the official emergency notification system for Jeffcom911 and first responders in Jefferson County. Please visit Lakewood.org/Emergency to register for LookoutAlert, the official emergency notification system in Jefferson County.

LookoutAlert is delivered through the Smart911 app and system. Smart911 allows you to create a free Safety Profile with critical information that can be shared with 911 call-takers when an emergency call is made from a registered phone number. This profile can include details such as medical conditions, allergies, disabilities, household members and even pets — information that can help first responders provide faster, more effective assistance, even if you’re unable to communicate. The Smart911 Safety Profile is optional, but it does not control which alerts you receive. You manage alerts in your account settings.

If your password doesn’t work, that means you have not signed up for LookoutAlert. Please register at Lakewood.org/Emergency by clicking on the “Sign up for LookoutAlert notifications” button. 

You can still receive LookoutAlert notifications even without a cell phone. Landlines are included in the LookoutAlert system already and residents can also register email addresses.

Even if you have a landline phone, which is already included in the LookoutAlert system with no registration required, there are several good reasons to take the time to register and add your information into the LookoutAlert system:

• You can provide critical information about your household, including medical needs, pets or mobility concerns that will assist first responders.
• You can opt in to notifications like severe weather alerts or community messages.
• You can add alternative phone numbers, including if you later have a cellphone, to your registration.
• You can set alert preferences and add additional locations, including family members’ residences or a vacation home. 

In addition to LookoutAlert, there are several other ways in which community members may receive emergency notifications depending on the severity, type and location of the emergency:

• Public notification methods: (Government-issued alerts through TV and radio – IPAWS: EAS and WEA geotargeted alerts; first responders in field)
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) weather radio for weather alerts
• Local media partners
• Lakewood 8, the city’s cable television channel
• The city’s website
• City social media channels

Residents are also encouraged to create an emergency preparedness plan with loved ones today. You can find resources and information on how to do that at Ready.gov.

Unfortunately, Lakewood’s outdoor sirens have reached the end of their service life. They are costly to repair and use outdated technology that only provides a generic alert instead of specific information about the type or location of the emergency. Their effectiveness is also limited by distance, weather, background noise and their inability to reach residents indoors.

LookoutAlert offers a far more reliable, cost-effective and modern way to deliver detailed emergency notifications to residents wherever they are — indoors, outdoors, or on the go. Jefferson County has adopted LookoutAlert as its official emergency notification system as a modern and more effective alternative to the outdoor sirens. 

Lakewood’s outdoor sirens were installed 39 years ago and have only been used once in the past decade—to warn people outdoors during a severe storm with very large hail. The sirens were otherwise tested once a year to ensure they were working, but these were only tests, not actual emergency alerts. This sometimes caused confusion among residents who couldn’t tell whether the siren sound signaled a real warning or just a test.