The City of Palo Alto announced that it will conduct a test of its emergency alert system next Thursday, December 14 at noon, to ensure that residents who have registered receive emergency notifications as defined in their settings. account.
According to a statement from the city, the test also seeks to raise community awareness about the city's emergency alert system, since only one-third of Palo Alto residents are currently registered to receive these types of alerts.
The city uses AlertSCC, a Santa Clara County emergency notification system employed by all cities in the county, to alert the public about flooding, wildfires or other public safety events.
The alert system is an approach used to communicate and keep the public informed during an emergency to share community impacts and risks to public safety.
AlertSCC is free for everyone, as well as being quick and easy to set up, users can select whether alerts are sent directly to their mobile device, landline and/or email address.
To register for the city's emergency alert system, interested parties can visit the site www.alertscc.com.
The city of Palo Alto said it plans to test the emergency alert system annually every December. The emergency notification will indicate that the message is only a “test.” If you already have an account, you will receive the “test” alert as a call, text message, and/or email message, depending on your account preferences.
Local authorities asked to refrain from calling the city's 24-hour dispatch center (either 9-1-1 or (650) 329-2413) after the test to ask questions or obtain additional information.
"Our public safety dispatchers are not participating in this test and have no way to control their alert preferences," they noted.
In addition to Palo Alto's emergency alert system, there are other ways for the community to stay informed before, during and after an emergency, public safety incident or other event that poses a risk to the public safety of residents.
These include:
- Police Department Nixle Alerts: https://local.nixle.com/palo-alto-police-department/
- Official website of the city of Palo Alto at www.cityofpaloalto.org
- City of Palo Alto Uplift local digital newsletter, subscribe at www.cityofpaloalto.org/upliftlocalnews
- City of Palo Alto social media channels including Nextdoor, Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). Follow the City on these platforms at www.cityofpaloalto.org/connect
- Real-time storm-related community impacts in www.cityofpaloalto.org/stormupdate
- Recorded Palo Alto Emergency Public Information Line at (650) 329-2420.
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