Know where to go before an emergency happens.
Use this page to find local and official resources for emergency alerts, cooling and warming support, air quality, flood risk, family preparedness, accessibility tools, and community assistance in the Rochester and Monroe County area.
Start here in an urgent situation
For immediate danger, fire, medical emergencies, crimes in progress, or life-threatening situations.
For help finding food, shelter, clothing, housing support, transportation, and other local services.
For mental health, emotional distress, suicide prevention, or substance use crisis support.
Important: Resource availability, hours, and active alerts can change quickly during extreme weather or other emergencies. Always check the linked official source for the latest information.
Stay informed during local emergencies
Sign up for alerts and check current local incidents before severe weather, road closures, or public safety issues affect your area.
MonroeAlert Emergency Notifications
Sign up for emergency notifications from Monroe County. Alerts may include severe weather, shelter-in-place instructions, evacuation notices, road closures, and other urgent updates.
Monroe County Safety Incidents
View current Monroe County 911 incidents for situational awareness. This can be helpful during storms, traffic disruptions, hazardous conditions, or other active local events.
Cooling, warming, and emergency shelter resources
Extreme heat, dangerous cold, and power outages can become unsafe quickly. These resources can help you find a safe place or connect with support.
Rochester Cooling Resources
The City of Rochester’s Cool Sweep program shares cooling options during hot weather, including spray parks, pools, libraries, R-Centers, and other places to cool down.
Monroe County Code Blue and Warming Centers
During dangerous cold, Monroe County shares Code Blue information and warming center resources. Check the official source for current locations, hours, transportation details, and availability.
211/LIFE LINE and 988 Crisis Support
211 can help connect residents with food, shelter, housing support, clothing, transportation, and other community services. 988 provides mental health, emotional distress, suicide prevention, and substance use crisis support.
Check air quality, smoke, and environmental conditions
Use these resources when wildfire smoke, poor air quality, extreme weather, or environmental hazards may affect outdoor activity or travel.
NYS Air Quality Report
Check current air quality conditions across New York State. This is especially useful during wildfire smoke events, ozone alerts, or days when sensitive groups may need to limit outdoor activity.
NOAA Wildfire Reports
View NOAA wildfire reports and trend information. This is useful for understanding broader wildfire activity, though current air quality tools are better for deciding what to do today.
Understand your home and neighborhood risk
Preparedness starts with knowing which hazards are most likely to affect your household, property, commute, or neighborhood.
FEMA Flood Map: Search by Address
Use FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center to search by address and see whether your home, workplace, school, or neighborhood is in a mapped flood hazard area.
Preparedness for kids, families, and schools
Emergency preparedness is easier when kids, caregivers, teachers, and youth-serving organizations have age-appropriate resources to start the conversation.
Disaster Preparedness for Kids
Red Cross resources can help families teach children what to do before, during, and after emergencies in a way that feels approachable and age-appropriate.
Disaster Preparedness for Schools
Red Cross school preparedness resources can support teachers, administrators, PTAs, child care programs, and youth organizations working on emergency planning.
Accessible emergency communication
Communication needs matter during emergencies, traffic stops, evacuations, sheltering, and other stressful situations.
Deaf and Hard of Hearing Police Communication Card
The City of Rochester’s visor alert card can help Deaf and hard-of-hearing residents communicate with police during traffic stops or other interactions. Consider printing it and keeping it somewhere easy to access in your vehicle.
Save this page before you need it.
During extreme heat, dangerous cold, poor air quality, flooding, power outages, or other disruptions, knowing where to look can make a stressful situation easier to navigate. Bookmark this page, share it with a neighbor, and check official sources for the latest updates during active emergencies.
Suggested maintenance note: update this page seasonally, especially before summer heat and winter weather.