The recent Flat Fire sparked a dramatic surge in registrations for the Deschutes Alerts program across Deschutes County, with over 3,500 new sign-ups in less than a week. On August 23 alone, over 1,300 residents registered in a single day. That brings the total sign-ups to 70,976 across the county.
Deschutes Alerts is the county’s official emergency notification system, allowing people to receive urgent warnings about evacuations, severe weather, hazardous materials incidents, law enforcement activity, missing or endangered persons, and other threats to public safety. Alerts can be delivered via text message, phone call, email, TTD/TTY, and more based on the locations you care about.
Post-fire data developed by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management team shows that people all over the county signed up, not just in areas impacted by the Flat Fire. The large spike in new registrations occurred when the Flat Fire was most active and threatened several neighborhoods and about 4,000 structures, including homes.
“Emergencies can happen with little or no notice, and the Flat Fire was a reminder of how quickly situations can change,” said Ashley Volz, Emergency Services Coordinator for the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office. “Deschutes Alerts is one of the best ways for you and your family to stay informed and safe when minutes matter. And it’s designed for other emergencies when public safety is at risk, not just wildfires.”
Deschutes Alerts is reserved strictly for emergencies. It is not used for general updates or informational purposes. Notifications are sent only when residents should take protective actions such as evacuating, sheltering in place, or being on the lookout for a dangerous individual. Alerts are only sent to households directly affected by a fire or other emergency. Your home is not impacted if you don’t receive one.
People who have signed up for Deschutes Alerts are most familiar with messages about the pending danger of active wildfires. They are only sent to people within evacuation areas once a wildfire begins to threaten people and structures. The Sheriff’s Office uses an alert system with three evacuation levels:
- Level 1 – Be Ready: Be aware of danger in your area and prepare for possible evacuation.
- Level 2 – Be Set: Be ready to leave at a moment’s notice. There is significant danger.
- Level 3 – Go Now: Leave immediately. Danger is present, and there is no time to gather belongings.
In addition to notifying residents of escalating danger, Deschutes Alerts also informs people when the emergency has passed or when evacuation levels have been lowered from Level 3 to Level 2, providing clear guidance on when it is safe to return home.
Sign Up Before an Emergency
One of the most important steps people can take is registering before an emergency occurs. Waiting until an event unfolds may be too late to receive the first critical alert, especially during fast-moving incidents like wildfires or law enforcement emergencies.
People must use their physical address (not a P.O. Box or mailing address) when registering. Providing a physical address ensures that you receive alerts pertinent to your area. Emergency managers draw an alert area on a map, and people who have registered an address inside that boundary receive the notification. You may not receive an alert without a physical address in the system, even if you live in the impacted area.
How to Register
Signing up for Deschutes Alerts is quick and free. Call the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office at 541-388-6501 for assistance registering, or sign up online at: deschutesalerts.org
The service area includes Deschutes County, Crooked River Ranch, and Camp Sherman. Deschutes Alerts is made possible through the OR-Alert program, a statewide alert and warning initiative. Visit oralert.gov to find your county’s alert and warning program.
