Department of Public Safety News Release

Public and charter schools in Missouri can begin signing up to utilize a new state-funded mobile emergency alerting app that allows teachers and others to rapidly alert school staff and first responders to emergency situations. The alert app will be available free to schools and users. It puts a simple to use silent alerting app into the hands of teachers and school personnel so they can get out word of an intruder or other emergency.

The FY 2023 and 2024 budgets for the Department of Public Safety approved by the General Assembly included funding for an emergency alert app to be available for public and charter schools across the state. Last month, Missouri contracted with Raptor Technologies to provide what is referred to as a silent panic alerting system.

Utilizing technology that schools already have in place, the app expedites and streamlines emergency response by allowing teachers and other school staff to quickly initiate an alert through their mobile device or computer. The silent alert works directly with 911 to provide critical information, such as location-based information and school campus maps, with first responders, law enforcement, and campus personnel – within seconds. Additionally, districts are able to schedule and manage their ongoing safety drills using the Raptor software.

This month, it was announced that 169 school districts and charter schools have received grants from the newly created School Safety Grant Program. The $20 million grant was part of the FY 2023 early supplemental budget request. The Governor’s Fiscal Year 2024 budget proposal includes an additional $50 million for the program, if approved by the General Assembly.

Missouri school districts may begin enrolling in the alerting program by going to www.raptortech.com/Missouri. Each district will have its own account that will link the alerts to selected area first responders. Raptor will conduct training for each district, beginning with pilot schools and then district-wide training. The company encourages districts interested in utilizing the app to contact Raptor to begin the enrollment process.    

NOTICE: This edited version of the original May 8, 2023 news release from the Office of Governor Mike Parson was posted on Jan. 16, 2025, because the original online news release was taken down at the conclusion of Governor Parson's term on January 13, 2025.   

For more information, call 573-751-5432 or e-mail mike.oconnell@dps.mo.gov