On this page you will find information and updates pertaining to ongoing emergency situations when they occur within the City of Rochester. Examples of emergencies include, but are not limited to, a significant weather event, a boil water advisory, public safety, and more.
There are currently no ongoing emergency situations in the City of Rochester.
City of Rochester Emergency Response Alert Sign-Up
The City of Rochester offers residents the opportunity to sign up for the Hyper-Reach emergency alerts system. The opt-in system is designed to provide residents with important information via robocalls, texts, and emails during emergencies, providing direct updates and relevant resources.
The Hyper-Reach emergency alerts system is one of many communications tools the City of Rochester and Monroe County uses to inform the community, but is the most personalized and direct, enabling people to choose their preferred method of communication.
Residents can choose how they prefer to receive alerts: via SMS (text) alerts, email notifications, phone calls, and/or TDD. Registration is quick, easy, and free of charge.
More Resources
Register Your Mobile Phone with 911
The 911 Center can notify residents of Monroe County by home phone or now by mobile phone in case of emergency. Your home phone is automatically registered with 911, but now you may register you mobile phone as well. If Police or Fire Officials need to notify you in case of an emergency in your area we will call your home phone and if you have registered your mobile phone we can either call or text your mobile phone with information about the incident as well.
Sign up to receive alerts here. If you have any questions please contact the 911 Center at (585) 528-2200, Monday - Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Nothing says “We’re here to help,” like 311. These three digits on your telephone keypad provide citizens immediate access to City government and all of its services. This number works inside city limits. To reach the 311 Call Center outside city limits call (585) 428-5990. Live representatives are available 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, with the exception of New Years Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas. (Note: Non-emergency police issues can still be reported at any time by dialing 311).
Monroe County 9-1-1 has “Text to 9-1-1,” an option for Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint customers who need to contact 9-1-1. Monroe County was the first 9-1-1 Center in New York State to accept text messages from all four major carriers!
Verizon, T-Mobile, AT&T and Sprint customers in Rochester and Monroe County can now send a short message service (SMS) text message to 9-1-1 for emergency help when they are unable to make a 9-1-1 voice call.
Text to 9-1-1 is intended primarily for use in two emergency scenarios: for an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing; and for a person who is unable to make a voice call, for example during a medical emergency that renders the person incapable of speech, or in the instance of a home invasion or abduction.
- Important Information for Verizon Wireless, AT&T, Sprint, and T-Mobile Customers in Monroe County:
- Customers should use the texting option only when calling 9-1-1 is not an option.
- Using a phone to call 9-1-1 is still the most efficient way to reach emergency help. Texting is not always instantaneous, which is critical during a life-threatening emergency.
- Providing location information and nature of the emergency in the first text message is imperative, since the Communications Center will receive only an approximate location of the cell phone, and will not be able to speak with the person sending the text. Text abbreviations or slang should never be used so that the intent of the dialogue can be as clear as possible.
- Customers must be in range of cell towers in Monroe County. If customers are outside or near the edge of the county, the message may not reach the Emergency Communications Department.
- Texts sent to 9-1-1 have the same 160-character limit as other text messages.
- Verizon Wireless customers who use Usage Controls should remove this feature to ensure full text to 9-1-1 capabilities.
- Verizon Wireless customers must have mobile phones that are capable of sending text messages.
- The texting function should only be used for emergency situations that require an immediate response from police, fire or emergency medical services.
- Text messages should only be used to communicate between 911 Center and the sender. Pictures, video, other attachments or including other recipients are not able to be accommodated.
In Rochester, you can text 9-1-1!
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The Emergency Management Division (EMD) is a part of the Rochester Fire Department. The Mayor has designated a Deputy Fire Chief Officer of the City of Rochester Fire Department to serve as the city’s Emergency Manager. The EMD works to ensure the City of Rochester is ready for any kind of emergency. EMD works with organizations throughout the City to prepare for possible emergencies in the City, lessen their impact, and recover as quickly as possible.
- To meet our mission, the EMD is responsible for:
- Teaches the public how to prepare for emergencies such as the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)
- Develops public safety plans for major events within the City.
- Oversees development of the City’s plans for large-scale emergencies and disasters.
- Conducts training and exercises to test the effectiveness of plans and policies.
- Collects, analyzes, and disseminates incident information.
- Coordinates and supports responses to and recovery from emergencies.
These are just a few items that the EMD is responsible for.
During a disaster, local government and disaster-relief organizations will try to help you, but you need to be ready as well. First responders may not be able to reach you immediately, or they may need to focus their efforts elsewhere. We ask that you prepare yourself for our common area emergency. Please use our local links to help prepare you and your family. If you have any questions please contact 311.
Local Resources:
More Resources:
New York State Emergency Management
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
FEMA: Are your Ready (An online guildbook to emergency preparedness)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Emergency Preparedness and Response
American Red Cross
National Safety Council
Seniors | Ready.gov
Ready.gov Plan Ahead for Disasters
(FEMA) Spanish Materials