Napa County To Test Mass Notification Alert Systems

NAPA, CA — The Napa County Office of Emergency Services announced that a test of its Mass Notification Systems will take place Wednesday, Dec. 11. The testing is scheduled from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and will focus on the county's Wireless Emergency Alert — WEA — and Nixle alerting systems.

Both systems are used during actual emergencies to provide information to residents and visitors when immediate action from the public is necessary, according to Noel Brinkerhoff, spokesperson for the county of Napa.

Wednesday's test is specific to Angwin, Aetna Springs and Pope Valley, Brinkerhoff said, and no registration is required.

A WEA message will be sent to all cellphones in the three communities and will state: "Emergency Alert TEST message. Go to Readynapacounty.org.IPAWS for feedback. No other action needed."

The WEA system is similar to the Amber Alert system in which cellphone users hear a loud tone and receive an accompanying text message.

Those subscribed to the county's Nixle alert system in Angwin, Aetna Springs and Pope Valley will receive the same text message Wednesday.

Nixle is a free notification service used by authorities to send texts and/or email alerts about time-sensitive, geographically specific emergencies.

"Napa County OES requests that anyone receiving the test message to click on the link provided and fill out the brief survey," Brinkerhoff said. "Doing so will help Napa County OES improve its Mass Notification Systems. "