Most Californians know they should have an emergency plan. Fewer have actually set up the free, official alert systems that can give them critical minutes — or even seconds — of warning before a wildfire reaches their neighborhood or an earthquake starts shaking. Here's how to get those alerts active on your phone and computer right now, before fire season peaks or the next big tremor hits.
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The Two Alert Systems Every California Resident Should Know
California runs two major public emergency alert systems that are separate and serve different purposes. For wildfires, floods, and evacuations, your county's emergency alert system (connected through the state's Cal OES infrastructure) will send geotargeted texts and calls to your phone. For earthquakes, the USGS and Cal OES jointly operate ShakeAlert, which powers the MyShake app and sends Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) directly to compatible phones — no signup required for the basic phone alert, but the app gives you significantly more functionality.
You need to sign up for both. They don't overlap, and one doesn't substitute for the other.
How to Sign Up for Wildfire and Evacuation Alerts
Evacuation alerts in California are managed at the county level, not the state level. That means you need to register with your specific county's emergency alert system. Most California counties use one of a handful of platforms — Nixle, Everbridge, or Rave Mobile Safety are common — but each county has its own sign-up page. Start at your county's Office of Emergency Services website and look for "emergency alerts" or "CodeRED" or similar language. Cal OES maintains a directory of county emergency management contacts at caloes.ca.gov that can point you to the right local page.
When you register, use a cell phone number, not just a landline. Landlines in many counties are automatically enrolled in some systems, but cell phones typically require manual opt-in. You can also add an out-of-area number — useful for registering a family member who lives elsewhere but owns property in a high-risk zone. After signing up, check whether your county requires periodic re-enrollment to stay on the list; some systems remove inactive registrations after a set period.
CalFire's website at fire.ca.gov has current information on fire hazard severity zones and links to preparedness resources, but for evacuation orders and warnings specifically, your county alert system is the primary delivery mechanism. Follow your county sheriff's office and county OES on social media as a backup, since evacuation orders are often posted there in real time as well.
How to Set Up ShakeAlert for Earthquake Early Warning
ShakeAlert is the USGS-developed earthquake early warning system now active across California, Oregon, and Washington. It detects the fast-moving seismic waves from an earthquake and sends an alert before the stronger shaking arrives at your location. For large earthquakes far from your location, that warning window can be 30 to 60 seconds or more. For earthquakes nearby, it may be only a few seconds — but even a few seconds is enough to drop and take cover, move away from glass, or pull a vehicle off the road.
Your phone may already receive ShakeAlert-powered Wireless Emergency Alerts automatically if you have a compatible Android (version 5.0 or later with settings enabled) or iPhone (iOS 15 or later). Check your phone's emergency alert settings to confirm WEA is turned on and not muted. For more detailed alerts, download the MyShake app, developed by the University of California, Berkeley in partnership with USGS. MyShake is free, available on both iOS and Android, and gives you a countdown before shaking begins, plus post-earthquake check-in features. Check the USGS ShakeAlert page at usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/shakealert for the current list of compatible devices and app updates.
What to Do Once You Get an Alert
A ShakeAlert earthquake notification means shaking is seconds away. Drop to your hands and knees immediately, get under a sturdy table or desk if one is nearby, and hold on. If you're in bed, stay there and protect your head with a pillow. If you're driving, pull over away from overpasses, power lines, and buildings, and stay inside the vehicle. USGS and Cal OES recommend against running outside during shaking, since most injuries come from falling objects near exits, not from structural collapse.
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A wildfire evacuation warning from your county alert system means a fire is threatening your area and you should prepare to leave immediately. An evacuation order means leave now, without waiting to gather additional belongings. Cal OES guidance distinguishes between these two levels clearly: warnings are "get ready," orders are "go." Knowing that distinction in advance means you won't waste time trying to interpret an alert under stress. If you're in a wildfire-prone area, CalFire recommends having a go-bag packed and a pre-planned route in mind well before fire season, which in California effectively runs year-round in many regions but intensifies in fall with low humidity and Santa Ana or Diablo wind conditions.
A Few Things That Trip People Up
Wireless Emergency Alerts can be blocked by Do Not Disturb settings on some phone models. Test your settings now, not after an event. Search your phone's settings for "emergency alerts" or "safety alerts" and make sure they're enabled and set to override silent mode.
If you're a renter, you're still responsible for your own alert registration. Building managers are not required to register tenants in county alert systems. New residents — including people who recently moved from out of state or to a new county — often miss this step because they assume the previous address's registration transferred. It doesn't.
Finally, USGS notes that ShakeAlert warnings won't reach every phone in every situation, particularly in areas with poor cell coverage. A battery-powered NOAA weather radio, available at most hardware stores, can receive broadcast emergency alerts and functions as a backup when cell networks are overloaded after a major event, which is common.
This is general information, not legal or financial advice — check caloes.ca.gov, usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/shakealert, fire.ca.gov, and your county's Office of Emergency Services for guidance on your specific situation.