Depending on the disaster or emergency situation, you may need updates from multiple sources. Sign up for the alerts below, get a weather radio and if you have a smart phone, download the apps. Information is critical in an unexpected event.

ReadySLO.org will send critical information from local agencies during a disaster if you need to take action, such as to evacuate. Register up to five phones in your household. Alerts may include:

• Wildfire and evacuation information with life safety implications
• Information during an event about evacuation routes, shelters, transportation
• Other public safety incidents where lives may be at risk

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a national public warning system that requires radio and TV stations to broadcast emergency information provided by local, state and federal officials. During an emergency, local officials could activate the EAS to provide emergency information and actions necessary to the general public over local radio and TV stations.

Local radio and TV stations are an effective way to stay tuned to emergency information. It is essential to have battery-powered devices, such as a battery-operated radio to stay tuned during power outages. The Emergency Alert System is tested on the first Thursday of every month.

Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) are emergency alert messages like text messages that are sent to WEA-enabled cell phones in the vicinity of an emergency that requires the public to act. The alerts include a unique sound and vibration.

Wireless Emergency Alerts is one of the public alert and notification systems that San Luis Obispo County officials can use to alert the public of an emergency. WEA is part of a nationwide system that not only allows local officials to provide emergency alerts, but also enables certain state and federal officials the ability to activate the system. Currently the system can be activated by local emergency officials, the National Weather Service for severe weather events, the CHP for AMBER alerts, and the President of the United States for times of national crisis.

WEAs look like text messages but are designed to get your attention with a unique sound and vibration repeated twice.

WEAs are no more than 360 characters and include the type and time of the alert, any action you should take and the agency issuing the alert.

WEAs are not affected by network congestion and will not disrupt texts, calls or data sessions that are in progress.

You are not charged for receiving WEAs.

The County of San Luis Obispo has multiple alert and notification systems that can be used to provide emergency information. Two of these systems, Reverse 911 and AlertSLO, require the public to register their devices to receive emergency information.  The County of San Luis Obispo also utilizes other alert and notification systems including the Emergency Alert System, the Early Warning System sirens, and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).  These system are used to provide protective action orders in conjunction with the systems mentioned above, but do not require registration.  More information on all of the County's alert and notification systems can be found here. 

Reverse 911 is a system used to provide emergency information regarding law enforcement or security related events, including evacuations and shelter in place.  Reverse 911 messages are sent to landlines (automatically in the system) and cell phones (if registered) providing emergency information and instructions.  This system is primarily used to provide urgent security or protective action orders.  

San Luis Obispo County officials are able to inform the public of an emergency by utilizing an emergency telephone notification system.

Emergency officials can notify residents and businesses in a designated area of an emergency and actions they may need to take.

The  system is managed by the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office and can be used county wide.

Although the system is used primarily for disasters which require the public to act, it may be used in other emergency such as high-risk missing persons.

This system utilizes the 9-1-1 telephone database and therefore can contact listed and unlisted land line telephones. If you have a Voice over IP (VoIP) or cellular telephone that you would like to be notified on, you must self-register those telephone numbers the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office.

AlertSLO is a new system that will provide important information, such as severe weather, major highway closures, planned power outages, or other emergency related information.  Although this system will also be utilized if protective action orders and warnings are issued, the system will focus on lower-level emergency related information.  These messages are sent by the Office of Emergency Services to registered devices, cell phones, or email alerting them of important emergency-related information.  User can select the type of information they want to be notified of when they sign up.  

 Emergency alert radio signals are provided by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service (NWS). These radio signals are not accessible over AM/FM radios but are received by NOAA Weather Radios. Weather alert radios can be used to alert the public of other serious emergencies, not just weather events.

NOAA Weather radios can be purchased as most electronic stores and online.The National Weather Service provides additional information on NOAA Weather Radios as well as the weather radio channel frequency listings by County in California.

One of the most important things to include in your disaster supply kit is an emergency weather radio. Emergency weather radios access to NOAA weather frequencies that can alert you to upcoming or current weather situations like flash floods or thunderstorms. Emergency radios are also designed with various back-up power methods such as hand cranks, batteries, or solar panels so you can extend their running time without access to power. 

The following is an excerpt from a recent article listing some of the most popular weather radios that can be purchased online. If you are unable to get an emergency weather radio, a battery powered AM/FM radio will still give you access to local emergency messages.

 MIDLAND ER310

If you’re looking for an emergency radio that’s extremely easy to use while providing a variety of features, try the Midland ER310. It has a large, bright LCD screen and helpful instructions. The ER310 is a weather alert radio, not just a weather band radio, which means it is able to receive emergency-band alerts automatically without you having to tune in first. Has hand crank to charge battery and solar panel, and integrated flashlight. 

FosPower Emergency Solar Hand Crank Portable Radio

A lower-cost option is the FosPower Emergency Solar Hand Crank Portable Radio which provides a good amount of useful features and four charging options. This is a weather band radio rather than a weather alert model, so it won’t automatically receive NOAA alerts; you’ll have to tune in first when you expect to face threatening weather conditions. This radio lacks the digital tuning and push-button controls of higher-end options - the simple design, without menus or digital control is great for someone who wants a more classic radio. 

Kaito KA340 Weather Alert Radio

The Kaito KA340 Weather Alert Radio has Bluetooth connectivity and a microSD memory card slot and a variety of power options — rechargeable lithium-ion battery, four AA batteries, hand crank and solar panel. It also has a  flashlight and large lantern light. Although this radio is able to receive NOAA alerts, you won’t be able to use any other function while the “alert” setting is selected.

Midland ER10VP

This radio is a smaller version of the Midland ER310 and Midland ER210,  fits in the palm of your hand and weighs just 8.8 ounces. Despite the small size, this little radio still provides automatic NOAA alerts without your having to tune in first, You also get a flashlight with three settings, a headphone jack and a  wrist lanyard. The only drawback to this little radio is that it only runs on three AA batteries, so no rechargeable battery, hand crank or solar panels. 

RunningSnail MD-090P

The most impressive feature of this radio is its 4,000 mAh battery which means that the RunningSnail MD-090P should be able to run longer than any other, which also translates to more charging capacity when it comes to using it as a power bank to keep your devices working. This is a huge benefit in an emergency situation when the power goes out. It also has a powerful flashlight and separate “reading lamp". The RunningSnail is only a weather band radio, and doesn’t have automated weather alert functionality (though it can clearly receive NOAA weather stations). 

Route Alerting is a form of alert and notification that is used often in smaller scale emergencies or during quickly changing situations in a certain area. In route alerting, emergency responders drive or walk an affected or potentially affected area alerting residents of the emergency and actions they need to take.

Route Alerting can be door to door or via a public address system on a police car, fire engine, etc. Although route alerting is effective when other systems are unavailable, it is dependent on resource availability and can be a slow process. Route Alerting is traditionally used only in areas that are ordered to take action.