Louisville launch new app for public safety during the Kentucky Derby

City officials in Louisville are using a new app to keep the tens of thousands of visitors to this year’s Kentucky Derby, on Saturday, informed and safe.

The app, called Lou Ready, is being used by Louisville Metro Emergency Services to push real-time alerts, safety information and navigation tools to spectators gathering at Churchill Downs race track and at other locations across the city. Its use in the Kentucky Derby marks the tool’s first deployment at the high-profile event.

The app builds on the city’s emergency notification system, LENSAlert, which is powered by technology from Motorola Solutions. By integrating the two systems, officials can send synchronized alerts, including weather warnings from the National Weather Service, via text and app notifications. The app includes real-time alerts, a “safe walk” feature that allows users to share their locations with with trusted contacts, and quick access to emergency services.

Monica Harkins, a spokesperson for the Louisville Metro Emergency Services, said the city “soft launched” the app in September, urging residents to download it ahead of the winter season in order to test the efficacy of weather-related notifications.

“Not sure how familiar you are with Louisville, Kentucky, weather, but we do get all four seasons — snow, ice, hot summers — so we get it all,” said Harkins, who appeared over a Zoom call in a bright pink floral dress and matching hat, a signature look for Derby attendees. “So the winter is when we really started pushing for everybody to download this.”

The Lou Ready app allows officials to embed maps, images and links, giving users more context during fast-moving situations like road closures or severe weather. So far, weather conditions for the event on Saturday are expected to be cool, with highs around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, but Harkins said city officials will watch the weather in case things change.

“That’s one of the things that we’re always watching and working really closely with our partners, like the weather can change up to the minute by minute of when we could see [a storm] rolling through,” Harkins said. “But I think anybody coming to the Kentucky Derby, or anyone who’s been here before, they say it’s worth it.”

Harkins said the app has been downloaded more than 6,000 times, a figure she said reflects strong early adoption in a crowded digital landscape. Louisville, the most populous city in the state, has roughly 640,000 residents.

She said that level of participation is key to public safety during Derby week, which began April 25, and is expected to draw crowds of more than 150,000 people to the metro area. She said the city is planning a broader marketing push for public awareness this summer: “You know, knowledge is power, and the more you can be informed about preparedness techniques and things you can do, it helps our community stay calm in a moment of an emergency.”