Join Orange County’s annual regional mass notification test on Oct. 20

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Oct. 19, 2022) – The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will test its emergency mass notification system, AlertOC, on Oct. 20 with a test emergency alert that will be sent to residents’ mobile devices.

The test will replicate a large-scale, multi-jurisdictional emergency requiring thousands of numbers to be called simultaneously across Orange County. This is the 12th annual regional test of the system and will include multiple municipalities and the county’s unincorporated areas.

“We should all take action to prepare for emergencies and disasters that can affect our communities,” said Michelle Anderson, Director of Emergency Management for the Sheriff’s Department. “Our goal is to increase the overall number of individuals, families and communities that engage in preparedness actions at home, work, school, and places of worship.

“We urge residents and businesses to prepare for the many hazards that threaten our daily lives and sense of normalcy – most often occurring in Southern California with little-to-no warning.”

Disasters, such as the state’s historic wildfires, often occur rapidly, forcing evacuations and road closures to neighborhoods.

AlertOC, the county’s mass notification system, is a critical link for residents to immediately learn of any required actions, such as evacuating their homes during an imminent fire. AlertOC also enables the county to inform our residents during ongoing incidents, such as a pandemic or other health emergencies.

The distinctive feature of AlertOC is the ability for individuals to register multiple contact methods and addresses. Registration of cell phone and alternate numbers dramatically increase the ability to reach the greatest number of community members within minutes. This enables landlines, cell phones and e-mail addresses to be incorporated into a single notification system.

Residents can do their part to prepare for emergencies by registering for AlertOC. For more information or to register alternate phone numbers or e-mail addresses, visit AlertOC.org.