verb
BAD : Finally we got really worried and alarmed the local police.
GOOD : Finally we got really worried and alerted the local police.
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alarm = make someone feel worried about a possible danger: 'We don't wish to alarm people unnecessarily, but it would be wise to avoid drinking the tap water here.'
alert = inform someone of possible danger so that they can be ready to deal with it: 'When the pilot realized that one engine had failed, he alerted air traffic control.'