Multi-CountyTsunami Alert Test - North Coast (Del Norte, Humboldt, Mendocino)

March 28, 2018, 11 am - 12 pm, Drill at Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino Counties

Event Location:
Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino Counties

Event Contact:
N/A, N/A, N/A, N/A

Summary:
Emergency alert system test for Del Norte, Humboldt, and Mendocino County.


Full Description:
Our big event is the Tsunami Warning Test this Wednesday with the EAS system triggered around 11 am, sirens activated between 11 and 11:15 (if they work) and an airplane flyover test audible announcing systems (weather permitting) until as late as noon. The most important part of the test is to make sure everyone knows it is only a test and not react inappropriately because they are confused and think a real warning was issued. If there is any chance of confusion – the test will be cancelled. If widely felt quakes like those of last Thursday occur in the morning before the test, the test will be cancelled. If a tsunami alert bulletin has been issued following an earthquake elsewhere in the Pacific, the test will be cancelled. If there is a local emergency (major fire, chemical spill, life safety incident) where sirens may be used, the test will be cancelled. We’ve cancelledthe scheduled test twice since we began them in 2008. In 2011 the test was scheduled for March 23, but when a real tsunami hit us 12 days earlier, the test quickly became unnecessary. The test scheduled for last October was cancelled because of the fires in Mendocino County. In the rare chance that the test is cancelled, we will use broadcast and social media to get the word out.