Officials in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties will conduct a test of the Wireless Emergency Alert system on Thursday, sending emergency messages to mobile phones in flood inundation zones near the Pajaro River.
The test is scheduled for about 3pm and is part of ongoing efforts by the Santa Cruz County Office of Response, Recovery & Resilience to ensure the system is ready to quickly communicate during life-threatening emergencies such as floods, wildfires or tsunamis.
Monterey County’s Department of Emergency Management will also be testing its alert system dbetween 3 and 5pm. The coordinated test is intended to help ensure emergency communication systems are working effectively for communities in Watsonville and Pajaro.
Wireless Emergency Alerts are short notifications delivered directly to cell phones by authorized public safety agencies. They are used to share critical information during emergencies such as floods, earthquakes, evacuation orders and other disasters.
During the test, phones may emit a loud tone and vibration even if set to silent. Messages will be clearly marked as a test, officials said.
Monterey County officials said the alert is intended to maximize community reach while minimizing disruption. Local input is being considered before the final timing is confirmed, and residents will be notified in advance once the test time is finalized.
No action is required from the public. Not all devices will receive the alert due to factors such as carrier coverage, location or phone settings.
Wireless Emergency Alerts are one of several tools the County uses to keep the community informed during emergencies. To sign up for regular alerts, visit CruzAware.org. For more information about emergency alerts, preparedness resources, and how the County communicates during disasters, visit Alert Notification Application.
