If you haven’t, register for SoCoAlert. Only residents who live in the designated Sonoma Valley evacuation zones will receive the SoCoAlert messages on April 30. You may receive an alert if you are not registered with SoCoAlert, but registering will help keep you and your family safe in the event of an emergency and allow you to receive alerts in a variety of ways.

Make sure your phones and other devices will let you know when an alert is sent.

• In addition to registering for SoCoAlert, you can program the alert phone number (866-419-5000) in your cell phone so you will recognize and answer the call.
• Make sure your cell phone’s sounds are turned on.
• Be aware that airplane mode or “do not disturb” settings will prevent you from hearing an alert.

Obtain a NOAA Weather Radio (NWR). The Non-Weather Emergency Message system also will be used to send a message to ensure the auxiliary alert system is fully functional. The message can be received by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Weather Radios. The Non-Weather Emergency Message portion of the exercise will be broadcast to all of Sonoma County.  The transmitter is on Sonoma Mountain, which means some parts of the county will not receive the alerts. Be sure the weather radio you obtain has the “public alert” logo.