Get ready for fire season. Here’s how to sign up for emergency alerts in Southern California

As another fire season approaches, it’s important to know where to go for the latest information on evacuations in your area.

Below are some resources you can go to for updates and to sign up for mass alerts.

Evacuation warning or evacuation order?

According to the California Office of Emergency ServicesA evacuation warning means your life or property could be in danger. If a warning is issued, it’s best to assume that an order will be given soon. A warning means it’s time to start preparing to leave: gathering essentials for your family and pets. The Office of Emergency Services says people who need more time to evacuate or who have large pets should simply plan to leave when the warning is issued.

A evacuation order This means that there is a current threat to your life and you must leave immediately.

Emergency Alerts

California Office of Emergency Services sends emergency alerts through the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system. To receive these alerts, you must enable emergency alerts in your mobile phone settings. But local authorities cannot use the WEA system for fire evacuation updates.

The Office of Emergency Services also has a website where you can sign up for alerts by entering your zip code. You will then be redirected to your local emergency alert system.

There is no centralized alert system in Southern California to notify residents of fire warnings and evacuation orders.

In fact, every county in the region – Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino and Riverside – has its own text message alert system.

Here’s a breakdown of some of these systems and how to opt into this option in Southern California.

Los Angeles County

You can sign up for a system called Alert LA County, which the county says “is used to contact county residents and businesses via recorded phone messages, text messages, or email messages in the event of an emergency.” You can sign up here.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department also posts regular updates on its Account X.

The City of Los Angeles also has a mass notification system, NotifyLA. You can sign up hereor text READY to 888-777.

The Los Angeles Fire Department also posts regular updates on its Account X.

Orange County

Orange County uses AlertOC, “a mass notification system designed to keep residents and businesses informed of emergencies and certain community events.” You can sign up here.

AlertOC uses the phone companies’ 911 databases, so most landlines will already be in the system.

Riverside County

Riverside County uses a system called Alert RivCo to “alert members of the Riverside County community of urgent actions to take in the event of disasters, such as earthquakes, wildfires and floods.”

You can register here.

Alert RivCo uses the phone companies’ 911 databases, so most landlines will already be in the system.

San Bernardino County

In San Bernardino County, the emergency alert system is called Telephone Emergency Notification System (TENS). You can sign up here.

TENS uses the phone companies’ 911 databases, so most landlines will already be in the system.

You can also call 909-220-4292 for the most recent status update.

San Luis Obispo County

The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office has a 9-1-1 reverse alert system. You can sign up here.

CalMatters also offers this tour establishment of emergency alert services for other California counties.

Santa Barbara County

You can sign up for the Santa Barbara County Emergency Alert System here.

You can also follow Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management on X.

Ventura County

Ventura County’s emergency alert system is called VC Alert. You can sign up here.

VC Alert uses the phone companies’ 911 databases, so most landlines will already be in the system.

Here are some additional resources to stay informed about mandatory evacuations, shelters, road closures and more:

More resources