How to Sign Up for Earthquake and Wildfire Alerts in California Before You Need Them
How do I sign up for wildfire evacuation alerts in California?
Wildfire evacuation alerts in California are managed at the county level, not by the state. To receive them, search your county name plus "emergency alert signup" and register your cell phone number directly, since most county systems default to landlines. The Cal OES website at caloes.ca.gov links to county programs if you can't find yours easily.
Does California's earthquake early warning system work on iPhones?
Yes. Apple added ShakeAlert-powered earthquake alerts to iPhones in 2023 through iOS. To confirm it's enabled, go to Settings, then Notifications, then Emergency Alerts and make sure earthquake alerts are turned on. Android phones running version 5.0 or later also receive ShakeAlert alerts automatically; check Settings and search "earthquake" to verify.
What is the difference between an evacuation order and an evacuation warning in California?
In California, an evacuation order means residents must leave the area immediately, as conditions pose an imminent threat to life. An evacuation warning means a threat is possible and residents should be ready to leave quickly. Evacuation orders carry legal authority and are issued by county officials, typically the county sheriff or county executive.
What is MyShake and do I need it if I already get Wireless Emergency Alerts?
MyShake is a free earthquake early warning app developed by UC Berkeley Seismological Laboratory and connected to the USGS ShakeAlert network. It can provide a few additional seconds of lead time compared to standard Wireless Emergency Alerts in some situations and includes post-earthquake reporting tools. It's available for both iOS and Android and supplements, rather than replaces, your phone's built-in alert settings.
Are Wireless Emergency Alerts enough for California disasters, or do I need to sign up for something else?
Wireless Emergency Alerts are automatic and require no signup, but they cover broad geographic areas and may not include the neighborhood-specific evacuation orders that matter most during a fast-moving wildfire or local emergency. Registering your cell number with your county's alert system gives you more targeted warnings. Using both together gives you the most complete coverage.
- CAL FIRE Incident Map — live statewide fire perimeters and containment status
- Evacuation Orders & Warnings Guide — what each alert level means and how to prepare
- Cal OES Emergency Alerts — statewide emergency notifications and current alerts
California runs some of the most sophisticated public emergency alert systems in the country, but a significant share of residents have never actively signed up for them, relying instead on federal Wireless Emergency Alerts that blast to every phone in range. That's a floor, not a ceiling. Knowing which systems exist, how they reach you differently, and what you have to do to receive the most specific local warnings can make a real difference in how much time you have to act.
Related: How to Sign Up for California Earthquake and Wildfire Alerts Before You Actually Need Them · How to Sign Up for Earthquake and Wildfire Emergency Alerts in California
The Difference Between Automatic Alerts and the Ones You Have to Opt Into
Wireless Emergency Alerts, the loud buzzing alerts sent directly to cell phones, are automatic and require nothing from you. They cover presidential alerts, imminent threat alerts, and AMBER alerts and are managed federally through FEMA and the FCC. They're geographically broad, which is useful but also means they can miss the specificity that matters most during a fast-moving wildfire or a localized earthquake aftershock warning.
The systems worth actively signing up for are layered on top of that baseline. California's statewide system, run through the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES), coordinates with county-level systems that can target a single ZIP code or even a specific neighborhood. If you haven't signed up at the county level, you may not be getting those.
How to Sign Up for County Evacuation Alerts
Almost every California county operates its own alert and warning system, and most use one of a handful of platforms: Everbridge, Rave Alert, Nixle, or AlertMedia. The name of the county program varies. Los Angeles County uses a system called Notify LA. San Diego County uses AlertSanDiego. Alameda County uses AC Alert. Contra Costa uses CivicReady. Searching your county name plus "emergency alert signup" should get you to the correct page quickly; the Cal OES website at caloes.ca.gov also links out to county programs.
When you sign up, you'll typically enter your address, phone number, and email. Most systems default to alerting the landline at your address, which means renters and people who've moved or use only a cell phone are frequently left out unless they register explicitly. Registering your cell number is the single most important step, and it takes about three minutes. Many systems also let you add a second address, useful if you want wildfire alerts for a vacation property or a family member's home.
For wildfire-specific information, CAL FIRE maintains a public fire map and incident information at fire.ca.gov, though real-time evacuation orders are issued and tracked by county, not by CAL FIRE directly. Evacuation orders and warnings carry legal weight in California; an evacuation order means leave now, while an evacuation warning means be ready to leave. The distinction matters.
ShakeAlert: The Earthquake Early Warning System
ShakeAlert is a USGS-led earthquake early warning system that detects seismic waves and can send alerts seconds before shaking arrives at your location. Those seconds are real, even if the window is short: enough time to drop and take cover, pull over, or move away from a window. The system now covers California, Oregon, and Washington.
On Android phones running Android 5.0 or later, ShakeAlert-powered earthquake alerts are delivered automatically without any app download, through a feature called Earthquake Alerts in your phone's settings. Check that it's enabled: go to Settings, search "earthquake," and confirm it's turned on. Apple added similar functionality to iPhones in 2023 through iOS's emergency alerts settings. Check under Settings, then Notifications, then Emergency Alerts to make sure it's on.
For a dedicated app, MyShake, developed by UC Berkeley Seismological Laboratory and connected to the ShakeAlert network, is available free for both iOS and Android. It gives a few additional seconds of lead time in some cases and includes post-earthquake reporting tools. The USGS ShakeAlert program page at usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/shakealert has documentation on system coverage and accuracy.
See also: How to Sign Up for Los Angeles County Emergency Alerts - and What the System Actually Does · Beef Recalled in California? 30,000 Pounds of Argentine Beef Pulled - What Shoppers Need to Know
What the State-Level System Adds
Cal OES operates the California Warning System and coordinates with the National Weather Service, the National Tsunami Warning Center, and county-level offices to push alerts across multiple channels simultaneously. The state also maintains a program called California Earthquake Early Warning, which complements the federal ShakeAlert infrastructure. You don't sign up for these separately; they work in the background and feed into what you receive through your county system and your phone's built-in alerts.
One thing Cal OES specifically recommends: don't rely on a single channel. If you sign up for county alerts by text, also opt in to email. If there's a local AM radio station designated as an Emergency Alert System broadcaster in your area, knowing the station number costs nothing. Power and cell service can go down in the same event you're being warned about.
A Few Things Worth Doing Right Now
Look up your county's alert system and register your cell number if you haven't. Check your Android or iPhone settings to confirm earthquake alerts are enabled. Download MyShake if you want the additional ShakeAlert lead time. And find out which local radio station carries Emergency Alert System broadcasts in your county; your county Office of Emergency Services website typically lists it. None of this takes more than 15 to 20 minutes and none of it costs anything.
This is general information, not emergency management or legal advice. Alert systems, enrollment processes, and coverage areas change. Verify current signup links and system details with the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services at caloes.ca.gov, your county's Office of Emergency Services, and the USGS ShakeAlert program at usgs.gov/programs/earthquake-hazards/shakealert.