Sonoma County Testing Alert And Warning System In Healdsburg

SONOMA COUNTY, CA — Tests of three alert and warning systems will be conducted Thursday morning in Sonoma County. Residents and visitors within the communities of Healdsburg, Cloverdale and Geyserville will receive a phone call or an alert on their mobile device between 10 a.m. and 11:10 a.m. Thursday as officials test the county's Wireless Emergency Alert system, SoCoAlert and the National Weather Service NOAA Weather Radio System.

"There are never too many ways to receive an emergency alert, that's why we use multiple systems to reach you if there is a threat to your life or property," Board Chair David Rabbitt said in a written statement. "Testing our system allows us to study gaps and make improvements for a safer, more prepared County."

The Wireless Emergency Alert system sends a brief text message to participants to notify them of threats to life and property. SoCoAlert alerts residents by telephone, mobile phone, text message, email and social media about geographically specific emergencies, according to county officials.

The county is also partnering with the National Weather Service to test the NOAA Weather Radio system, a nationwide network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information.

— Bay City News Service