Evacuations
Emergency evacuations can happen fast and sometimes without much advance warning. Preparing now helps you act quickly, stay safe, and protect your family when it matters most. Whether it’s a wildfire, severe weather, or another unexpected event, knowing what to do ahead of time is critical to your safety. This includes understanding alerts, evacuation orders, and where to access reliable information when every moment counts.
How to Start Preparing for an Evacuation
While the City continues to strengthen emergency response efforts, residents and businesses play a critical role in ensuring evacuations run smoothly. Being prepared ahead of time helps reduce confusion, speeds up response, and allows emergency personnel to focus on those who need the most assistance.
- Share information with family, friends, and neighbors. Understand alerts, evacuation orders, and how to get information on emergencies.
- Create a family or business evacuation plan. Identify meeting locations and make sure everyone knows how to communicate if you become separated.
- Know your routes. Familiarize yourself with multiple ways to leave your neighborhood in case primary routes are closed.
- Plan for pets and livestock. Establish a plan so you can evacuate quickly with animals.
- Prepare a “go bag.” Keep essential items such as medications, important documents, water, and basic supplies ready to take with you.
Stay informed!
Use the following links to stay informed and prepared for emergencies and evacuations.
Emergency Instructions for Evacuations
Lone Tree, through collaboration with the Douglas County Office of Emergency Management, adopted standardized emergency notification terminology as part of a broader front range effort to improve communication and reduce confusion among citizens during emergencies. These terms aren’t just words – they’re instructions, and in some cases, a lawful order by the police department.
Each term signals a different level of urgency and tells you how to respond. Knowing the difference can help you act faster, make informed decisions, and protect yourself and your family when every second counts.
Evacuation Order
There is an immediate threat to life. This is a lawful order to leave the area right away, and it is closed to public access.
What You Should Do:
- Leave immediately. Do not wait to gather belongings or finish tasks.
- Follow official routes. Use designated evacuation routes and follow directions from emergency personnel.
- Take essentials only. If time allows, bring your go-bag, medications, important documents, and pets.
- Check on others. If it’s safe to do so, make sure neighbors, especially those who may need assistance, are aware.
- Do not return. Once you leave, do not go back until the police department or other emergency personnel say it is safe.
- Stay informed. Monitor official alerts and updates for instructions and re-entry information.
Evacuation Warning
There is a potential threat to life and/or property.
What You Should Do:
- Get ready to go. Begin gathering essential items, including medications, important documents, and supplies.
- Consider leaving early. If you need extra time, or have pets or livestock, leave now to avoid delays.
- Fuel your vehicle. Make sure your car is ready in case conditions change quickly.
- Review your plan. Know your evacuation routes and where you will go.
- Stay alert. Monitor official updates and be ready to leave immediately if conditions worsen.
Shelter In Place
Go indoors and stay inside. Staying indoors is the safest option.
What You Should Do:
- Go inside immediately. Stay indoors and avoid going outside until it is safe.
- Secure your home. Close and lock all doors and windows.
- Limit outside air. Turn off fans, heating, or air conditioning systems if instructed.
- Stay informed. Monitor official alerts and updates for further direction.
- Be prepared to wait. Have basic supplies on hand and be ready to remain inside until the situation improves or you receive additional instructions from emergency personnel.
Stay Informed & Notified
The City uses a variety of communication methods to share important information with residents, businesses, and visitors, including alerts, evacuation notices, and real-time updates. Many emergency notification systems are opt-in services, meaning residents and businesses must sign up to receive alerts. Redundancy with use of several communication channels is important for the City to reach as many citizens as possible during an emergency.
To ensure you receive emergency notifications from the City, please sign up for the following communication methods:
Sign up for DougCoAlert – Douglas County’s emergency notification system used to send important alerts about emergencies and time-sensitive incidents. Residents can sign up to receive notifications by text, phone call, and email to stay informed about evacuations, severe weather, public safety incidents, and other emergencies.
Bookmark the City’s designated emergency website page – The City’s designated emergency webpage serves as a central source for emergency information, updates, evacuation resources, and preparedness guidance. During an emergency event, residents are encouraged to monitor the page for the latest official information and instructions.
Follow the City’s official social media channels – The City will always use its social media channels to provide information and updates on emergencies. Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, NextDoor, and Instagram.
Subscribe to the City’s text messaging service – Subscribe to the City’s text messaging service to receive timely updates, emergency notifications, and important community information directly to your mobile devices. Text alerts provide a quick and convenient way to stay informed during emergency situations.
Subscribe to receive the E-Timberlines – Subscribe to the City’s E-Timberlines digital newsletter to receive important City updates and community news directly by email. During emergency events, email communications will also be used to share timely updates and public safety information.
Additional Notification Methods
Hi-Lo Sirens – The City may use Hi-Lo sirens during evacuations in coordination with other regional law enforcement partners. Emergency vehicles equipped with Hi-Lo sirens may travel through affected areas to alert residents to evacuate or take immediate action. These sirens are effective especially if other systems are down due to wireless or electricity outages. “When you hear Hi-Lo, it’s time to go.”
Door Knocks – In some emergency situations, first responders may conduct door-to-door notifications in affected areas to help alert residents of evacuation orders or other urgent safety information. While door knocks may be used, residents should not rely solely on in-person notifications and are encouraged to stay informed through other communication channels.
Universal Emergency Notification Systems – IPAWS (Integrated Public Alert and Warning System), Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA), and the Emergency Alert System (EAS) – these universal systems do not require sign up by residents as these systems have automatic access to all mobile devices.
Local News Media Channels– Emergency notifications for Lone Tree will always be shared with local news media to help expand citizen reach.
What to Expect from the City in Emergencies
The City's Evacuation Planning Efforts
The City’s Police Department and Emergency Management Team are working to strengthen preparedness and response efforts to help keep the community safe. In coordination with county and regional partners, Lone Tree continues to improve its ability to respond quickly and effectively during an emergency.
As part of these efforts, the City developed a Citywide Evacuation Plan that outlines processes and procedures for all City departments to ensure a coordinated response when evacuations are necessary. The plan strengthens Lone Tree’s readiness for high-risk, time-sensitive emergencies by improving coordination, communication, and the City’s ability to guide and protect residents, businesses, and visitors during evacuations.
Before an Emergency
Monitoring and Preparation
As the City becomes aware of a potential emergency, the City’s emergency management team begins monitoring conditions, gathering information, and coordinating with local, county, and regional partners.
Depending on the nature of the incident, the City may activate emergency response procedures, evaluate potential impacts to the community, and begin preparing resources and communication efforts.
During an Emergency
Response and Evacuation
As conditions evolve, City staff and first responders work together to assess risks, identify affected areas, and determine whether protective actions such as alerts, shelter-in-place notifications, or evacuations may be necessary. Throughout the incident, the City focuses on providing timely information, coordinating response operations, and helping keep residents, businesses, and visitors safe.
If an evacuation becomes necessary, first responders will help residents safely leave affected areas, manage traffic, and secure neighborhoods. Emergency personnel may also assist with road closures, evacuation routes, and other public safety efforts during the incident.
After an Emergency
Coordination and Re-Entry
The City of Lone Tree works closely with Douglas County and regional emergency partners before, during, and after emergencies to coordinate communication and response efforts. This teamwork helps ensure residents receive timely information, clear direction, and support throughout the evacuation and re-entry process.