The Grand County Sheriff’s Office urged residents and visitors on May 5 to prioritize emergency planning as part of Wildfire Awareness Month. Officials are encouraging the public to use three key tools: the new Grand County Alerts notification system, the county’s real-time Evacuation Map, and the Ready, Set, Go! program.
Wildfires can pose significant risks to communities, making early preparation critical for safety. The sheriff’s office said these resources are intended to help people respond quickly in emergencies and support first responders.
Grand County transitioned in April to “Grand County Alerts,” a new emergency notification system powered by Rave – Motorola and Smart911. People who were previously signed up for CodeRED will not be automatically enrolled in this new system. Registration is required for all residents, business owners, second-home owners, and visitors who want to receive free notifications about law enforcement activity, evacuations, or other emergencies. Users can choose how they receive alerts—by text message, phone call or email—and may also provide optional information such as medical needs or disabilities that could assist first responders during a crisis.
The county also uses a color-coded evacuation map that divides Grand County into labeled zones using letters and numbers. The map shows current evacuation status: green means no order is in place; yellow indicates a pre-evacuation warning; red signals an immediate evacuation order. Residents are encouraged to locate their zone before an emergency occurs so they know what actions to take if conditions change.
The Ready, Set, Go! program from the Grand County Wildfire Council encourages households to create defensible space around homes by clearing brush and using fire-resistant landscaping materials (Ready), have essential items packed (Set), and leave immediately when told (Go). More information on wildfire prevention and preparedness is available at BeWildfireReady.org.
Officials said preparedness is a shared responsibility among community members. Registering for alerts and knowing your evacuation zone helps protect lives and property.
