(Douglas County, CO) Douglas County has adopted standardized emergency notification terminology consistent with a broader Front Range regional effort to improve disaster communications and reduce public confusion during high-stress events.
Douglas County will use the following terms:
- Evacuation Order: Immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave now. The area is lawfully closed to public access.
- Evacuation Warning: Potential threat to life and/or property. Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock, should leave now.
- Shelter in Place: Go indoors. Shut and lock doors and windows. Prepare to self-sustain until further notice and/or until contacted by emergency personnel for additional direction.
“These definitions are designed to eliminate ambiguity. Clear language leads to faster action, and faster action saves lives,” said Douglas County OEM Director Mike Alexander.