A Look at the Emergency Notification System In Colorado Springs

As Colorado Springs police were searching for a wanted fugitive on the run in southern Colorado Wednesday night, an alert was sent out to dozens of residents in the area where authorities believe the suspect was.

Jessica Sapp was one of those residents living near Monterey Road and Carmel Drive. At around 7:30 p.m. she got a call on her landline with an automated voice telling her to lock the doors and windows. It was sent by the Emergency notification system.

More than 100,000 residents in Colorado Springs are signed up for the system. It’s ran by El Paso-Teller County Enhanced 911 Authority. Ben Bills the public information officer says whenever there is an emergency in either counties, a phone call, text message, or e-mail is sent to those living closest too it. “We specifically select an area and the people that are in the most danger,” says Bills. Only residents within half a mile of the incident on Wednesday were notified.

The system is not just for situations involving police but for natural emergencies and missing people as well. This month, several notifications were sent out for multiple cases.

Sapp says she is thankful for receiving the call after signing up two years ago, “It was definitely very helpful to know to not let my kids near the doors.” The only downside Sapp thinks about the system is the lack of information given to each resident about the emergency at hand.

New improvements and changes are coming to the system in 2018 says Bills.

If you would like more information on the system or would like to sign up, click here.