More than two million Orange County residents will receive a call at 5:00 p.m. on October 20 to test the county’s regional mass notification system known as AlertOC. The City of Mission Viejo launched the program in 2008. This is the second annual regional test of the system and will include 29 participating cities – including Mission Viejo – and the county’s unincorporated areas.
The regional test is held in conjunction with the Great California ShakeOut earthquake drill. The AlertOC drill on October 20 will replicate a large-scale emergency, requiring thousands of numbers to be called simultaneously across Orange County’s entire region. The phone message will urge all residents to prepare for real-life emergencies by registering their cell numbers, text numbers and e-mail addresses at www.AlertOC.com for the best chance to receive vital, timely information when away from home. The AlertOC link is also available on the City’s website at www.cityofmissionviejo.org.
As part of the AlertOC drill, the county’s emergency public information hotline will be activated from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. to provide preparedness tips and other emergency-related information. Community members can call 714-628-7085 with questions on how to adequately prepare their home or business for any emergency.
Emergencies can happen at any time. A wildfire could spread or a flood could close the roads to a neighborhood while residents are away from home. In these instances, AlertOC is a critical link for residents to immediately learn of any required actions.
For more information or to register alternate phone numbers, visit www.cityofmissionviejo.org and click on the AlertOC icon.
