Monroe County Executive Adam Bello unveils expansive new MonroeAlert system to strengthen real-time public safety communication across the entire county

Monroe County, New York – Monroe County officials unveiled a major step forward in emergency communication today, introducing a county-wide alert system intended to bring crucial information directly to residents’ hands. Standing alongside Rochester Mayor Malik Evans, Sheriff Todd Baxter, the Monroe County Department of Public Safety and a wide coalition of first responders, County Executive Adam Bello formally announced the launch of MonroeAlert, a platform designed to close the gap between fast-moving crises and the people who need timely guidance.

The new system, built on the Everbridge notification platform, promises to deliver real-time updates across a spectrum of urgent events—everything from severe weather patterns to public safety issues, hazardous travel conditions, and directions for sheltering. The alerts can be sent instantly through text messages, emails, automated phone calls, or via the mobile app. What distinguishes MonroeAlert from many previous systems is the degree of personalization: notifications are tailored based on the subscriber’s specific location, allowing residents to receive updates that directly relate to where they live, work, or travel.

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During the announcement, Bello emphasized the essential connection between public safety and clear communication. “Keeping our community safe means keeping our community informed,” said County Executive Bello. “MonroeAlert is a powerful new tool that can deliver life-saving information directly to residents in multiple formats to make sure everyone gets the message. Thank you to our Public Safety team, Sheriff Baxter and our emergency responders for working together on innovative ways to leverage technology to protect our residents.”

Officials stressed that the goal is not simply to improve the speed of emergency communication, but to reduce the confusion that often accompanies community-level crises. Rochester Mayor Malik Evans spoke to this point directly, acknowledging how difficult it can be for families to sift through conflicting or unofficial sources of information when something goes wrong. “MonroeAlert is about giving every family in our community one clear, reliable message when it matters most,” said Rochester Mayor Malik D. Evans. “When a storm hits, a water main breaks or there is a public safety incident, people should not have to hunt through social media or guess which post is correct. With Monroe Alert, our City and County speak with one voice so residents know what is happening, what to do next and how to keep their loved ones safe.”

Sheriff Todd Baxter emphasized that the county’s law enforcement agencies have long recognized the value of rapid and accurate public notifications. According to him, an informed community is often safer, calmer, and more capable of responding appropriately while emergency personnel focus on the highest priorities. “Keeping our community informed is one of the most powerful tools we have for keeping it safe,” said Monroe County Sheriff Todd K. Baxter. “MonroeAlert strengthens our ability to keep our citizens in the know, in real-time, whether it’s an emergency, a road closure, weather-related warning, or important public safety information. This proactive tool allows our first responders to tend to those in the greatest need of assistance, first, in the event of a critical emergency, with the ability to register functional needs, such as power dependency for life-support equipment. I strongly encourage everyone to sign up and stay connected, so together we can protect and support one another.”

In addition to providing fast communication, county leaders noted that MonroeAlert was built with accessibility at the forefront. Alerts will be available in multiple languages, ensuring that non-English-speaking residents do not find themselves cut off from critical updates. The system will also support ASL-compatible alerts, addressing a long-standing need among deaf and hard-of-hearing residents for more inclusive emergency communication.

Legislature President Yversha Román highlighted this focus on inclusion and the broader importance of information during emergencies. “During an emergency, information is just as critical as the response itself,” said Legislature President Yversha Román. “MonroeAlert ensures our residents aren’t left searching for updates or wondering where to turn. It puts lifesaving information directly into people’s hands in the format that works best for them, including multilingual and accessible alerts. I’m grateful to our first responders for the work they do to protect our community every day, and I encourage all residents to sign up and stay informed.”

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Other county legislators echoed similar sentiments, framing MonroeAlert as an important protective tool at a time when weather-related events, infrastructure issues, and public safety incidents can escalate quickly. Legislator Dave Long, chair of the Public Safety Committee, stated, “I am proud to support the launch of MonroeAlert, a powerful and important tool to keep our families aware of information that might directly impact their neighborhood. MonroeAlert will help ensure that our community has the details needed to stay out of harm’s way.”

Legislator Sean McCabe also underscored the system’s potential impact on coordination between the public and emergency services. “MonroeAlert gives families across Monroe County the timely information they need when seconds matter most,” said Monroe County Legislator Sean McCabe. “By putting real-time emergency updates right on our phones, we are strengthening our partnership with law enforcement and first responders. I encourage every resident to sign up today so we can keep our neighborhoods safer and more prepared.”

Beyond essential alerts, MonroeAlert offers residents the option to register any access or functional needs—ranging from reliance on power for life-support equipment to mobility limitations—so first responders have better situational awareness in high-impact emergencies. County officials say this feature can significantly improve response speed and prioritization during widespread incidents.

With MonroeAlert now active, the county is urging all residents to enroll immediately. Signing up takes only a few minutes at monroecounty.gov/monroealert, and the Everbridge app provides another simple way to stay connected by searching for “MonroeAlert.”

As emergencies grow more complex and information flows faster than ever, Monroe County leaders say the new system offers a central, trustworthy lifeline—one that speaks clearly when clarity matters most.