Get notifications if disaster strikes: Register for Placer’s emergency alert system and be a part of regional test Thursday, Oct. 19

Published on October 17, 2017

Placer County will join neighboring communities in a test of its emergency alert system Oct. 19, coinciding with the annual Great California ShakeOut drill for earthquake preparedness.

With historic wildfires still burning throughout Northern California, Placer will focus its test on the fire-prone communities in unincorporated Placer County along the Interstate 80 corridor from North Auburn to Truckee, including Foresthill as well as a small part of Auburn.

“The unprecedented fire disaster unfolding throughout California right now is a sobering reminder of just how quickly things move in an emergency,” said Placer County Emergency Services Manager John McEldowney. “Signing up for Placer Alert is a critical part of making sure you and your family are prepared when a disaster strikes.”

All Placer residents are urged to register with the Placer Alert system. The system allows residents to register more than one contact method including cell phones, alternate numbers, text, email and landline phones. Residents choose the best notification method for them, or choose them all. Multiple locations such as work, other family members' or a school's address can also be selected - whatever locations matter to you.

The Placer Alert system is a critical emergency notification link for residents to immediately learn of actions they might need to take for their safety. Signing up is easy and information is protected. Officials will only contact residents during an emergency, occasional tests or if help is needed to find a missing person.

Test messages will go out at approximately 10:19 a.m. Thursday to anyone in the targeted areas who has a listed landline or who has signed up for the alerts. The messages will include a local phone number to call to hear the message again.

If anyone is not sure if they’ve registered or if they’ve changed phone numbers, they are encouraged to check their registration information now, or log in or create a profile.

Placer residents, especially those in or near forested communities, are also strongly encouraged to maintain defensible space around their homes and to remove dead or dying trees on their property as quickly as possible. More information on wildfire prevention and safety is available online, and information for Placer residents about the ongoing tree mortality crisis is available online.