Public Alerts and Warnings

Alert Spokane Logo

REGISTER for ALERT SPOKANE!

Why ALERT Spokane?

ALERT Spokane is the program behind public alert and warning notifications disseminated throughout the greater Spokane area. The software supporting the program is called CodeRED. CodeRED is a mass notification system that can distribute emergency notifications via landline, cellular and/or Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phones, as well as via email, text messages, and TTD, TTY capable phones.

You may receive an alert message if emergency response personnel need to notify a specific area or areas in the county about any type of safety situation. Incidents such as a wildfire, missing person, or law enforcement activity are examples of situations where it may be used.
  • Information about the emergency may be provided, and some of these notifications may or may not directly impact you
  • This information is for the benefit of the general public and both businesses and residences located within the greater Spokane area may receive the message
IMPORTANT
The phone number displayed when you receive a phone call is 1-866-419-5000. When receiving a text, the text number you will see is 76993. To replay the phone message, redial the 866 number. If the call made to your phone is picked up by an answering machine or voicemail, the system will leave a message. If the line is busy or there is no answer, the system will try the number two additional times.

NOTE: If you are NOT a resident of Spokane County, please contact the local Emergency Management agency in your area to find out what notification options are available to you.

CLICK HERE to register for ALERT Spokane Notifications

Benefits of Registering

                                                                                                            
  • When you register, you have the option of adding multiple addresses and phone numbers--home, work, school, parent, grandparent, etc.
  • If you are at work and want to be sure you are notified about an incident at your home, you must register your home address to get a notification. And the same applies if you are at home and want to be notified of something occurring at work or at a family member's home, and so on. Again, you will need to add your work address and/or family member's addresses to your registration.     
  • If English is not your first language, you can also choose to sign up and/or receive messages in one of the following language options: Spanish, Russian or Chinese.
If your local phone service is provided by CenturyLink or Frontier, your landline is already in our database; however, you may still want to register additional addresses and/or phone numbers, including cell phone numbers.

NOTE: the system removes duplicates, so you can include the landline number in your registration. If you have VoIP phone at home, VoIP phones must be registered to receive alerts. 

CodeRED Mobile Application


If you prefer not to register a physical address, you can choose to download the mobile application for your Android or iphone cell phone. However, these are location targeted notifications only if you are in the area of the notification. Once you have downloaded the app, follow the steps to receive notifications.
  
How the mobile app works: If you are in an area experiencing an emergency and the system has been activated by emergency response personnel, CodeRED will geo-locate your phone and send you an alert. Remember, this is only if you have turned on the 'location' or 'GPS' function on your phone, and you are in or near the area experiencing an emergency. 

IMPORTANT:

You will NOT receive potentially life or property saving information if you turn off the ability to receive alerts on your cell phone.

In the CodeRED mobile application settings, you can also choose how close by you want to be to receive notifications--a distance, of up to 25 miles, but these distances are not always accurate. Being in the targeted area is what is most important.

PLEASE NOTE: for all those who registered with ALERT Spokane in the past (before June 2017), please re-register to be sure you are in the system. This will also allow you to add multiple addresses and phone numbers, and you can make changes at any time. We were NOT able to maintain detailed account information from the previous vendor.
CodeRED Mobile Alert App

Registering Versus Downloading the APP--choose one or both!

  • The advantage of registering is to have emergency notifications connected to your home address, and if you desire, up to four additional addresses. In other words, if you are away from your home, you will still be notified if something is occurring in your neighborhood. And if you have included your work address or the address of a family member, you will be notified if something is occurring in those areas. In addition, if you prefer to receive an alert in another language, this can only be done when you register. 
  • The advantage of the CodeRED mobile application is its geo-locating abilities. In other words, if you turn the GPS feature ON for your smartphone and an alert is sent out where you are physically located, the CodeRED system will geo-locate your phone and you will be included in the notification. In addition, if you travel in an area that uses CodeRED and there is a emergency notification sent out in that area, your phone will be geo-located and included in the notification. 

REGISTER for ALERT SPOKANE HERE!

Questions?

Q: What do I do if I need registration assistance? 
A: Please contact the parent company of CodeRED, OnSolve, by calling 1-866-939-0911. You can also use their online form, but it is not monitored 24/7.

Q: Can I opt-out of receiving alerts?
A: Yes, but you will be required to print, sign and mail, the Opt-Out Waiver. Waivers MUST be filled out completely AND signed to be processed. A filled out and signed waiver can also be scanned and then emailed.
 
Our Frequently Asked Questions sheet provides additional information about ALERT Spokane. For more specific questions relating to Spokane County, please email ALERT Spokane. This email is not monitored 24/7--responses take at least two-three business days.
   
Note: under Washington State Law (R.C.W 42.56.230(9)), voluntarily submitted information contained in a database that is part of or associated with enhanced 911 communications systems, or information contained or used in emergency notification systems as provided in RCW 38.52.575 and RCW 38.52.577 is exempt from public disclosure.