Regional mass notification system test set for Aug. 25 includes Placer County

This Thursday, Aug. 25, 13 cities, three counties and one Tribal Nation will test the Regional Mass Notification System – maintained by Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties – for its capability, capacity and effectiveness to deliver emergency notifications to the public during a major disaster. The test will include residents who have opted into the local Placer Alert emergency alert system (cell, landline and email) and residential landlines in the 911 data system. The test alert will display on phones as: 833-422-5253. Residents can now save this number on their phone as "EMERGENCY ALERT." Alerts will be received through the communication device the resident has opted into – recorded messages for phone calls (cell and landline) and text-based messages for text and email alerts. Reverse 911 technology will contact residents on their landline with a recorded message, regardless of their "opt-in" status. To register, visit PlacerAlert.org. Residents can sign up for multiple addresses and devices to cover every geographical location they wish to receive alerts. Residents may also download the Everbridge App through the Apple App Store or Google Play. The test will also use Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA), a federal emergency system that uses geographically drawn boundaries to alert people in specific areas. WEA will make cell phones vibrate and omit a different tone than a ringing phone. Note: Verizon Wireless customers will notice a misspelling from the caller ID that says "Sacremento" – this is not spam. The misspelling occurred when Verizon Wireless set up the tri-county account. Sacramento County's Office of Emergency Services continues to work with Verizon to correct the issue.