# Configure an Alarm Response

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This article is a guide for new Alarms. Refer to this [article](https://app.gitbook.com/s/9tIFgMOGbY4p9wWaKQhl/configuration/configure-classic-alarms-site-settings) if you have classic Alarms. See [New Alarms vs Classic Alarms](https://help.verkada.com/new-alarms/getting-started/new-alarms-vs-classic-alarms) if you are unsure which version of Alarms you have.
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## Configure an alarm response

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Multiple partitions can share the same alarm response. The events from these partitions flow into a single alarm during an alarm raised event.
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**In Verkada Command, go to All Products > Alarms.**
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**Select the Alarm site that you want to configure.**
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**On the left navigation, select Response.**
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**From the dropdown in the top right, select your response mode.**

a. **Video Verification Only:** Contacts will be notified via SMS. Emergency service **will not** be dispatched.\
b. **Standard:** Contacts will be called first, then emergency services will be dispatched.\
c. **Immediate Dispatch:** Emergency services will be dispatched first, then contacts will be called.\
d. **Self-Monitored:** The internal security team reviews incidents and contacts emergency services directly, without monitoring center involvement. **I**deal for organizations with internal SOC teams or situations that require rapid response but not police dispatch, such as Door Held Open (DHO) events, water leak sensors, or maintenance alarms. **Note:** See [Self Monitored Response Level](https://help.verkada.com/new-alarms/configuration/configure-an-alarm-response/self-monitored-response-level) for more information.
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**Under Contacts will be notified:**

a. In the top right, click to add Command users to the contact list.\
b. Click and drag next to a contact to change the order of the contact list.\
c. Choose how each contact will be notified:

* **SMS** (required and enabled by default)
* **Email** (optional)
* **Automated Phone Call:** For **Notification Only** response flows, you can enable automated phone calls during an alarm. Each user is called twice in the specified order and can:
  * Resolve the alarm and disarm the partition, or
  * Acknowledge the alarm to manage it via the incident link or Command app, stopping further calls to other users.
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Automated calls are available in English, French, and Spanish.
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### Additional settings

Variations of the following options will be available based on your chosen response level.

* Under **Verification by agent via video:** Contains the cameras used as triggers and those used for video verification for configured sensors.
* Under **Agent Talkdown on triggering camera (Only available in Standard response flow):** Enable talk down and select the context camera.
* **Automated Announcement:** Enable automatic announcement over selected BZ-11 speakers when an alarm is raised.
  1. Click **No automated announcement.**
  2. Toggle on **Announcement**.
  3. Choose the message source:
     1. **Text-to-Speech** – type the announcement you want played.

        **Note:** There is a 500-character limit.
     2. **Audio File** – upload an MP3 file.

        **Note:** There is a 5 MB upload limit.
  4. Select the BZ-11 speaker(s) to play the message.
  5. **Testing the automated announcement**: Click **Preview** to play the announcement on your computer or local device, or press **Test on Speakers** to play it through the BZ-11 speaker.

     <div align="left" data-with-frame="true"><img src="https://2259276529-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FNU1He6Uj2tgInV2VdCLQ%2Fuploads%2F2tz0qPchlVYpkgbpuFVG%2FScreenshot%202026-04-10%20at%2010.29.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?alt=media&#x26;token=0ba4b150-bdbf-4f73-bb19-6db3a600f549" alt=""></div>
  6. The message will be played through the selected BZ-11 speakers when an alarm is raised in the configured alarm response.