City Tests Emergency Alert System – City of Palo Alto, California

Published on December 4th, 2024

Press release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

City tests emergency warning system

The annual test will be conducted on December 12 at 12 p.m. to raise community awareness

PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA – The City of Palo Alto will conduct a test of its emergency alert system on Thursday, December 12th at 12 p.m. The test is intended to increase public awareness of the city’s emergency alert system, as less than a third of Palo Alto residents are currently registered to receive emergency notifications. This also ensures that registered residents receive the emergency notifications set in their account settings.

The City of Palo Alto uses AlertSCC, a Santa Clara County emergency notification system used by all Santa Clara County cities to alert the public to emergency situations such as floods, wildfires, or other public safety events. The alert system is an approach to communicating and informing the public during an emergency to communicate community impacts and risks to public safety.

The city began conducting an annual test of the emergency alert system last December. The emergency notification notes that the message is just a “test.” If you already have an account, you will receive the “Test” notification as a call, text message, and/or email, depending on your account settings. To change your account settings before the December 12 test, log in to your account at https://member.everbridge.net/453003085615038/login

The city uses its emergency alert system sparingly and only for public information sharing in emergencies. AlertSCC is free for everyone. Setup is quick and easy and users can choose to have notifications sent directly to their mobile device, landline and/or email address. You decide how you would like to receive notifications and determine the order in which you would like to be notified. To sign up for the city’s emergency alert system, go to www.alertscc.com.

After testing, please do not call the City’s 24-hour emergency hotline (either through 9-1-1 or through (650) 329-2413) to ask questions or obtain additional information. Our public safety dispatchers are not involved in this test and have no ability to control your alerting preferences.

In addition to the City’s Emergency Alert System, there are several other ways for the community to stay informed before, during and after an emergency, public safety incident or other event that poses a public safety risk to residents, including:

• Palo Alto Emergency Public Information Recorded Line at (650) 329-2420.
• 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

Sign up for the city’s emergency alert system today.

Click here for answers to frequently asked questions about AlertSCC.

Sent by:

Meghan Horrigan Taylor

Chief Communications Officer

City Manager’s Office

E-mail:[email protected]