Know How to Get Information
Why?
In an emergency, communication systems may be disrupted for a lengthy period of time. That’s why it’s so important to plan ahead and know other ways to communicate and to receive critical information.
Know how to get information
Know your evacuation zone!
The County of Sonoma manages a countywide evacuation map, divided into zones. Learn which zone you’re in so you’ll know if your area is under threat by fire, flood, earthquake, or power outages.
Add this information to your Personal Emergency Plan and neighborhood bulletin board, if you have one.
Know Your Zone: City of Petaluma [PDF]
Know Your Zone: Sonoma County
Sign up for alerts
General: Receive urgent notifications by phone and/or text about local emergencies in Sonoma County. To sign up, text SoCoAlert to 99411.
Fire: Watch Duty gives you real-time information about fire movement and firefighting efforts in California. To install Watch Duty on your iPhone or Android, visit watchduty.org and click the correct store icon for your device.
Earthquake: Earthquake Early Warning notifications are now available publicly in California, Oregon, and Washington. MyShake is the citizen science project bringing users together to build a global earthquake early warning network. Have earthquake information at your fingertips, see damage reports shared by citizen scientists like you, and help build a global seismic network.
SoCoAlert
WatchDuty.org
Install the MyShake app on your phone
Recognize the hi-lo siren:
Police and other first responders use “hi-lo” sirens to notify residents of evacuations. If you hear this European sounding siren going by, pay attention and evacuate!
Listen in video below.
Know your local radio stations
The following local radio stations can provide weather and traffic information, as well as breaking news in an emergency.
Add this information to your Personal Emergency Plan and neighborhood bulletin board, if you have one.
KBBF 89.1 FM (English/Spanish)
KCBS 740 AM (all-news SF radio station)
Have a self-powered radio
Think that radios are old school? Think again. If your power goes out, an emergency battery-powered or hand crank radio may be priceless (although your car provides another good option).
Many emergency radios have extra features, such as the ability to be charged with solar, to be used as a flashlight, or to charge devices, such as your phone.
Consider a radio with the “NOAA” sticker. NOAA Weather Radio All Hazards (NWR) broadcast official Weather Service warnings, watches, forecasts, and other hazard information 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In Sonoma County, tune your NWR to frequency 162.475 or 162.550. When activated by an event, the radio will generate an alarm, voice alert, or flasher.
SoCoEmergency: Weather Radio Guide [PDF]
Build neighborhood bulletin board
This will take some time and planning, but can be a valuable resource for the community and a fun project for someone who enjoys building things. Throw this idea out to your group and see if anyone is interested. Encourage them to use recycled materials.