Full Notification

This is a courtesy reminder of tomorrow's emergency alert system test by the City of Palo Alto.

For more information, here is the City's original news release that we originally distributed back on December 4:
 

The City of Palo Alto announced today it will conduct a test of its emergency alert system on Thursday, December 14 at noon. The test of the system seeks to ensure residents who have registered are receiving the emergency notifications as defined though their account settings. The test also seeks to build community awareness of the City’s emergency alert system, as only one third of Palo Alto residents are currently registered to receive emergency notifications.  

The City uses AlertSCC, a Santa Clara County emergency notification system employed by all Santa Clara County cities, to alert the public about emergency situations such as a flood incident, wildfire, or other public safety event. The alert system is one approach used to communicate and keep the public informed during an emergency to share community impacts and risks to public safety.   

Last year, the City used its emergency alert system to notify affected homes of flooding that was occurring on New Year’s Eve. On December 31, 2022, the City issued a flood warning alert to specific contacts within the anticipated flood zone, and later that morning issued a citywide alert when flooding at the Pope Chaucer Bridge occurred.  

AlertSCC is free for everyone. It is quick and easy to set up, and users can select if alerts are sent directly to your mobile device, landline, and/or email address. You decide how you want to receive alerts and designate the order by which you want to be notified. To sign up for the City’s emergency alert system, go to www.alertscc.com.

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: 

• Police Department Nixle alerts: https://local.nixle.com/palo-alto-police-department/    
• City of Palo Alto official website at www.cityofpaloalto.org  
• City of Palo Alto Uplift Local digital newsletter, sign-up at www.cityofpaloalto.org/upliftlocalnews  
• 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  
• Real-time storm related community impacts at www.cityofpaloalto.org/stormupdate   
• Palo Alto Emergency Public Information Recorded Line at (650) 329-2420.

The City plans to conduct a test of the emergency alert system annually every December. The emergency notification will note that the message is only a “test.” If you already have an account, you will receive the “test” alert as a call, text message and/or email message, depending on your account preferences. To change your account preferences before the December 14 test, log into your account at https://member.everbridge.net/453003085615038/login

Please refrain from calling the City’s 24-hour dispatch center (either via 9-1-1 or via (650) 329-2413) after the test to ask questions or get additional information.  Our public safety dispatchers are not involved in this test and do not have any way to control your alerting preferences.

It is free to sign-up for the City’s emergency alert system. Sign up today at www.alertscc.com.