Prepare for an emergency: Join National Emergency Preparedness Notification System

Posted By CotoBlogzz

Rancho Santa Margarita – More than two million Orange County residents will receive a call on September 20, at 10:00 a.m. to test the County’s regional mass notification system known as AlertOC.  The AlertOC system designed is to keep Orange County residents and businesses informed of emergencies and certain community events. By

registering with AlertOC, time-sensitive voice messages from the County or City in which you live or work may be sent to your home, cell or business phone. Text messages may also be sent to cell phones, e-mail accounts and hearing impaired receiving devices.

The City of Rancho Santa Margarita will be participating in the regional test by sending its own message to RSM residents via AlertOC. This is the third annual regional test of the system and will include 24 participating cities and the County’s unincorporated areas.

Residents are encouraged to self-register their cell phone numbers and other alternate numbers to be a part of the regional test. 

A key feature of AlertOC is the ability for residents to register more than one contact method at a specific address. Registrations of cell phone and alternate numbers increase the potential of reaching the greatest number of community members as rapidly as possible. This enables landlines, cell phones and e-mail addresses to be incorporated into a single notification system.

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The regional test will be held in conjunction with National Emergency Preparedness Month. The AlertOC drill on September 20 will replicate a large scale, multi-jurisdictional emergency requiring thousands of numbers to be called simultaneously across Orange County’s entire region. The phone message will urge all residents to prepare for real-life emergencies by registering their cell numbers, text numbers and e-mail addresses at www.AlertOC.com for the best chance to receive vital, timely information when away from home. 

Emergencies can happen at any time. A wildfire could spread or a flood could close the roads to a neighborhood while residents are away from home. In these instances, AlertOC is a critical link for residents to immediately learn of any required actions. 

For more information or to register alternate phone numbers, visit www.AlertOC.com. Commuters are reminded to be safe and use hands-free devices when talking on the phone and driving.