(Santa Ana, CA) – More than two million Orange County residents will receive a call on Oct. 20

at 5 p.m. to test the County’s regional mass notification system known as AlertOC. This is the

second annual regional test of the system and will include 29 participating cities and the

county’s unincorporated areas.

The regional test is held in conjunction with the Great California ShakeOut earthquake drill.

The AlertOC drill on Oct. 20 will replicate a large scale, multi-jurisdictional 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

receive vital, timely information when away from home.

As part of the AlertOC drill, the county’s emergency public information hotline will be activated

from 5 – 7 p.m. to provide preparedness tips and other emergency-related information.

Community members are invited to 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

Commuters are reminded to be safe and use hands-free devices when talking on the phone

and driving.