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Cell service has been impacted in areas of Boulder County lately and local officials are working with stakeholders to identify and resolve the issue. In the meantime, it’s important to know how to communicate and receive emergency alerts; whether you live in an area that’s impacted by the recent cell service degradation or consistently has poor or no cell service due to the topography in your area.

Communications Tips

  • Understand your phone’s capabilities and services provided through your cell provider. Every phone and cell plan comes with different capabilities. Familiarize yourself with your phone’s settings and capabilities; know if your phone and service contract provide satellite back up for emergency calls, and explore the settings on your phone that allow you to make calls through satellite or Wi-Fi.
  • Use a voice over internet provider (VOIP) or landline phone service. These phones will allow you to receive emergency alerts and make calls when cell service isn’t reliable.
  • Use Wi-Fi calling on your cell phone. Adjust your settings to enable Wi-Fi calling, and ensure your cell phone is connected to make or receive calls.
  • Use satellite calling on your cell phone. Check with your provider on your ability to make satellite calls on your particular phone, and adjust settings based on their guidance to ensure you can make calls.
  • Text instead of making a call. Texts go through more reliably than sustaining a phone call. If needed, you can also text to 911.
  • Communicate through ham radio. To learn more about how to be a certified ham radio operator, visit the Boulder County Amateur Radio Emergency Services website.
  • Use an All-Hazards Weather Radio to receive emergency alerts for severe weather and flash flooding. You can purchase them through a local retailer or online, then follow manufacturer directions to program your radio.

Using these tips will help ensure you have access to emergency alerts, and can communicate with your support system or make 911 calls in the event of an emergency. Sign up for emergency alerts at bocoalert.org.