Got ten minutes? Set a timer and take ten to plan for the unexpected as you read on!
Save these numbers…
1. Grab your phone and put these SoCo Alert numbers in your contacts as favorites (very important!), so they by-pass your DoNotDisturb setting at night in the case of an emergency:
- 866-519-5000 or
- 866-419-5000
Know your Evacuation Zone
2. Go here now to verify it. Write it down on a piece of paper and put it on the fridge, by the door or on a bulletin board. You can also save it in your phone contacts for easy access. It is hard to remember these things in an emergency! Let’s make life easier for ourselves with easy-to-find reminders.
(NOTE: if you have a PO Box, the County might have your evacuation zone wrong for notifications. When registering, the address required is the physical address, not the mailing address, and should be entered accordingly.
Once registered, find the evacuation zone at SoCoEmergency.org. By entering the physical address, the system will provide the zone number, zone boundaries, and a link to a printable map..)
Sign up for Alert Systems
3. Make sure you are signed up to all alert systems possible and use multiple numbers if you have them because we never know why, but some numbers receive alerts when others don’t.
Here are the alert systems we discussed at a recent Safer West County meeting:
- SoCoAlert sign up here (alerts in Sonoma County by area)
- Nixle Alert sign up here (alerts are Countywide)
- Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) System (national and does not require signing up)
Consider buying a NOAA radio. These can be programmed to receive alerts at any time of day and will sound a loud alarm in the event of an emergency that can wake you up or grab your attention even if your cell phone service is down.
And ten minutes later, you are so much more prepared for an emergency! Taking care of ourselves, our neighbors and our beloved landscape is an ongoing process – just ten minutes out of your day and you’ve refreshed a few essential tools and information needed if and when the time comes to evacuate.