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1. What is Placer Alert?

Placer Alert is an emergency notification system powered by Everbridge which allows public safety agencies to help protect lives and property by providing critical information to residents during emergencies and dangerous situations. Public safety agencies can quickly send out an emergency alert to citizens in any affected geographic area. The current database includes only traditional wire-line telephone (the “land line” phone you may have in your home). If you want the system to send alerts to other communication devices that you use, such as your cell phone, email, text message, you will have to provide your contact information by logging into the system and signing up for alerts.

Since we have partnered with public safety agencies in Sacramento and Yolo counties, you can receive alerts about emergencies happening near addresses across all three counties, including your home address, work address, or your child’s school.

2. When will it be used?

This system will be used when there are imminent threats to life, health, and safety such as severe weather events, hazardous material emergencies, evacuation orders, law enforcement activity and more. Local government officials will also notify you of information that may affect the locations of your choice. Email us any additional question.

3. How do I sign up for Placer Alert?

You can sign up online. You will be asked to provide your name, address, telephone number, and email information. If you want to receive alerts for more than one address, you simply need to enter the first address, click the "Save" button at the bottom, and then enter an additional address. Repeat this process for each new address. You can list up to 5 addresses on your account.

4. Will I still get emergency notifications if I don't sign up?

You do not need to sign up to receive emergency notifications if you have a traditional landline telephone service. The emergency notifications are based on physical addresses and we import those phone numbers from AT&T and Verizon. However, according to the Center for Disease Control, over 40% of U.S. households do not have a landline telephone.

In order to receive notifications on other devices such as your VoIP phone, cell phone, or email, you need to sign up and register those devices. Registering these devices is highly recommended so that we can still send you the information even when you are not near your traditional landline phone.

5. What if my phone number or email address changes?

The system is only as good as the information you provide. If your cell phone, work phone or email address changes, you must go to your profile to update the information. The one exception is traditional landlines. If a traditional landline changes to another landline number, that information will be updated.

6. Will my contact information be shared with others?

No, the information that you provide will be used for emergency notification purposes only. We will not give or sell your telephone numbers or email addresses to any vendor or other organization. Some cities are offering information that you may opt into such as city announcements for local events.

7. What does it cost?

There is no cost to sign up. Emergency notification is a free service provided by local public safety agencies. In 2013, the system was funded through a grant from the California Office of Emergency Services. In 2014, the system was funded through a Placer County homeland security grant.

When calls are made to your cell phone, standard call and/or text messaging charges from your service provider may apply.

8. How will text messages show up on my mobile phone?

When you receive emergency text messages from Placer Alert, they will be sent from code 893-61.

9. Will I be guaranteed to receive the notifications?

We cannot monitor the current or future accuracy of the information provided by participants in this program. It is the sole responsibility of participants to keep any information provided current and accurate. We do not assume legal responsibility for inaccurate information or technical difficulties that may result in notification failures.