ASPEN, Colo. -- The Aspen-Pitkin County Emergency Telephone Service Authority has announced the launch of Pitkin Alert for emergency notification.

Public safety personnel can now send alerts via e-mail, text messaging, wireless and standard phones. Community members, residents and visitors can sign up for Pitkin Alert by visiting pitkinalert.org.

Participation is voluntary, and a cell phone is not required to use the Pitkin Alert system. Users can also register email accounts and landline telephones as well.

Emergency notifications will be launched through the Aspen-Pitkin County Communications Center for their entire dispatch area, which comprises Pitkin County and portions of Gunnison and Eagle Counties.

"With Pitkin Alert dispatchers will be able broadcast emergency messages to many different types of communication devices through an easy-to-use web interface" said Communications Director Mark Gamrat.

Pitkin County public safety officials have already begun to use the system internally to send text messages to coordinate first responders such as EMS, fire, police and other emergency personnel in the county.

"Communities are facing an ever increasing number of emergencies," said Pitkin County Sheriff Bob Braudis. "Having transparency with the community and pre-planning for emergency responders allows for better management of these emergencies."

Whether residents and visitors are on the slopes in Aspen or Snowmass, traveling through the area, or on their way home from work, they can be kept informed of important emergency information through the new system.