OC Sheriff to test emergency mass notification system, Alert OC, today

SANTA ANA, Ca. (Oct. 16, 2024): The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will test its emergency mass notification system, AlertOC, at 10:17 a.m. Oct. 17 with a test emergency alert that will be sent to residents’ mobile devices and home phones.

The test will replicate a large-scale, multi-jurisdictional emergency requiring thousands of numbers to be called simultaneously across Orange County.

“Recent earthquake and fire activity serve as an important reminder to us all to be ready for disasters that could happen at any time, disrupting our daily lives,” said Michelle Anderson, County Emergency Manager. “Our goal during National Preparedness Month is to encourage individuals, families, businesses, and community organizations to get involved in preparing at home, work, school, and places of worship. By taking small steps to prepare today, we protect our future.”

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

AlertOC is a critical link for residents to immediately learn of any required actions, such as evacuating their homes.

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 are encouraged to sign up at AlertOC.gov and also visit ReadyOC.org for emergency preparedness resources, including templates for family plans, checklists to build emergency kits, and more.