Get ready for fire season. Here's how to sign up for emergency alerts in Southern California (2024)

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

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

Evacuation warning or Evacuation order?

According to the California Office of Emergency Services, an 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 soon be coming. A warning means it’s time to start preparing to leave: gathering must-haves for your family and pets. The Office of Emergency Services says people who need more time to evacuate or have large animals should just plan on leaving when the warning is issued.

An evacuation order means that there’s a current threat to your life and you need to leave immediately.

Emergency alerts

The California Office of Emergency Services sends emergency alerts through what's known as the Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) system. In order to get these alerts, you must have Emergency Alerts turned on in your cell phone's settings. But local authorities may not use the WEA system for updates on fire evacuations.

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

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

Rather, each county in the region – Los Angeles, Orange, Ventura, San Bernardino and Riverside – has its own text alert system.

Here’s a breakdown of some of those systems, and how to opt in Southern California.

Los Angeles County

You can sign up for a system called Alert L.A. County, which the county says "is used to contact county residents and businesses via recorded phone messages, text messages or e-mail messages in case of emergency." You can sign up here.

The L.A. County Fire Department also posts regular updates on its X account.

The City of L.A. also has a mass notification system, NotifyLA. You can sign up here, or text READY to 888-777.

The Los Angeles Fire Department also puts regular updates on its X account.

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 911 databases from telephone companies, so most land lines will already be in the system.

Riverside County

Riverside County uses a system called Alert RivCo to "alert Riverside County community members of urgent actions to take during disasters, such as earthquakes, wildfires, and floods."

You can sign up here.

Alert RivCo uses 911 databases from telephone companies, so most land lines 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 911 databases from telephone companies, so most land lines 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 Reverse 9-1-1 alert system. You can sign up here.

CalMatters also has this round up of emergency alert services for other counties across California.

Santa Barbara County

You can sign up for Santa Barbara County's emergency alert system here.

You can also follow Santa Barbara County's 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 911 databases from telephone companies, so most land lines will already be in the system.

Here are some additional resources for staying up-to-date with mandatory evacuations, shelters, road closures and more:

• You can call the Incident Hotline to hear recorded information on the fire: (805) 465-6650
• Ventura County also has an emergency alert system called VC Alert which “enables officials to provide essential information quickly when there is a threat to the health or safety of residents.” More information can be found here.

• Social media accounts for staying up-to-date:

  • X:

    • Ventura County Fire Department
    • Public Information Officer for the Ventura County Fire Department

  • ​Facebook:

    • Ventura County Fire Department

More resources