Deschutes County sees surge in Emergency Alert Registrations following Flat Fire
(Update: Adding video)
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) – The Deschutes County Alerts program has seen a significant jump in new registrations following the recent Flat Fire, with more than 3,500 people signing up in less than a week.
According to the county, on August 23 alone, more than 1,300 new registrations were recorded. This brings the total number of sign-ups to 70,976 countywide.
Deschutes Alerts is the county’s official emergency notification service, designed to provide residents with critical information about evacuations, severe weather, hazardous material incidents, law enforcement actions, and other public safety threats. Alerts are delivered via text, phone call, email, and TTY/TTY, allowing residents to stay informed based on their location.
Data collected by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office Emergency Management team shows that the surge in sign-ups was widespread, with new registrations occurring not just in areas affected by the Flat Fire, but across the entire county. This increase in sign-ups coincided with the height of the Flat Fire, which threatened approximately 4,000 structures, including homes.
Ashley Volz, Emergency Services Coordinator for the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office, emphasized the importance of being prepared for emergencies: “Emergencies can happen suddenly, and the Flat Fire was a stark reminder of how quickly things can change,” Volz said. “Deschutes Alerts is one of the best tools to help you and your family stay informed and safe when every minute counts. It’s not just for wildfires—it's for any situation where public safety is at risk.”
Emergency Alerts Exclusively for Critical Situations
Deschutes Alerts is specifically designed for emergencies and is not used for general updates or non-urgent information. Notifications are only sent when immediate actions are required, such as evacuations, shelter-in-place orders, or warnings about dangerous individuals. Residents only receive alerts if their area is directly impacted by an emergency. If you don’t receive an alert, it means your home is not in the affected zone.
Wildfire-related alerts are most common for Deschutes Alerts users, as these are sent to residents in the path of a wildfire once the danger becomes imminent. The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office uses three levels of evacuation notifications:
- Level 1 – Be Ready: Be aware of potential danger and prepare for evacuation.
- Level 2 – Be Set: Be ready to evacuate at a moment’s notice. Significant danger is imminent.
- Level 3 – Go Now: Evacuate immediately. Immediate danger is present, and there’s no time to gather belongings.
In addition to escalating danger notifications, Deschutes Alerts also sends out messages when an emergency has passed or when evacuation levels are lowered, helping residents know when it’s safe to return home.
Why Sign Up Now
Emergency managers urge residents to sign up for Deschutes Alerts before an emergency strikes. Waiting until an incident is already unfolding can mean missing critical early alerts, especially in fast-moving situations like wildfires or law enforcement actions.
When registering, residents must provide their physical address — not a P.O. Box or mailing address. This ensures they will receive alerts specific to their area, as the alert system uses a geographic map to define boundaries for each emergency. If you don’t enter a physical address, you may not receive alerts, even if you live within the affected area.
How to Register
Registering for Deschutes Alerts is quick and free. To sign up, residents can visit deschutesalerts.org or call the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office at 541-388-6501 for assistance. The service area includes all of Deschutes County, as well as Crooked River Ranch and Camp Sherman.
Deschutes Alerts is part of the OR-Alert program, a statewide initiative for emergency notifications. For more information on alert systems in other counties, visit oralert.gov.
Note: Information provided by Jason Carr, Deschutes County Sheriff's Office
