How to Use the Citizen App for Safety Alerts

Citizen sends real-time notifications about nearby accidents, fires, crime, and emergencies so you can stay informed and stay safe.

In this guide (5 steps):

1.Download and install Citizen
2.Create an account
3.Set your alert radius
4.Read an incident report
5.Adjust notification settings

Download and install Citizen

~20s

Search for "Citizen" in the App Store or Google Play. Download and open the free app. On iPhone, Citizen is listed as "Citizen — Safety Alerts." When first opening, allow the app to use your location so it can show alerts near you.

Quick Tip

Choose "Always Allow" location access so Citizen can alert you even when the app isn't open.

Create an account

~15s

Create a free account using your phone number. Citizen sends a verification code by text. You can also sign in with Apple or Google. Add your name and an optional profile photo — other users can see your username if you comment on incidents.

Set your alert radius

~25s

Go to SettingsNotifications and set your alert radius — the distance around your home address that will trigger alerts. A half-mile to 1-mile radius is good for staying informed about what's immediately nearby. You can set up to 3 different alert areas (home, work, a family member's address).

Quick Tip

You can add a second location — like a child's or parent's neighborhood — to receive alerts from areas you care about even when you're elsewhere.

Read an incident report

~21s

When an alert appears, tap the notification to open it. The incident report shows the type of emergency, address, time, and any updates. Red incidents are active; gray are resolved. You can tap the speaker icon to hear audio from the dispatch call (where available).

Warning

Do not go to the scene of an incident out of curiosity. Stay clear and let emergency responders do their jobs.

Adjust notification settings

~15s

To avoid notification overload, go to SettingsNotifications and customize which types of incidents you want alerts for. You can filter to only receive high-priority alerts like fires, shootings, or major accidents — and skip lower-level incidents like minor vehicle accidents.

You Did It!

You've completed: How to Use the Citizen App for Safety Alerts

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Citizen is a free smartphone app that sends you real-time safety alerts about incidents happening near you — including fires, accidents, crime, missing persons, and other emergencies. It pulls information from 911 dispatch feeds and local news sources and delivers it as notifications to your phone.

The app shows a live map of your area with color-coded incident markers. You can tap on any incident to see details, watch live video from the scene (when available), and get updates as the situation develops. You can also view incidents in other cities — helpful if you're traveling or want to check on family members in another area.

Citizen is free to download and use. A paid subscription called Citizen+ adds features like personalized protective intelligence and a 24/7 safety team you can reach for help, but the free version provides the core alert functionality most people need.

The app is available in most major US cities and expanding. It's particularly useful for knowing whether to avoid a specific road due to an accident, understanding why emergency vehicles are nearby, or being alerted to wildfires, weather events, or other emergencies in your area.

Citizen does not replace calling 911 in an emergency — it's an information tool, not an emergency response system. Always call 911 for immediate help.

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