St. Paul police are rolling out a new emergency alert system that will notify residents via text message, phone call or e-mail.

"The alert system will only be used for incidents where there is an imminent threat to health and safety, such as active shooter events, in-progress searches for violent suspects or anything that immediately impacts public safety and awareness is urgently needed to [aid] law enforcement," said a police news release issued Wednesday.

The Emergency Notification System is a city and county partnership that's free for residents, businesses and anyone who subscribes.

"The alert is geographically specific and will only notify people in the area who could be affected by the event," police said. "Subscribers of the service may choose the specific geographic areas for which they would like to receive alerts."

Subscribers can specify how they prefer to receive their alerts: text message, a call to their cell or home phone, or an e-mail. Landline phones will receive alerts whether they are signed up or not, according to police.

To sign up for alerts, visit: stpaul.gov/publicsafetyalert.