Evacuation exercise planned in the Springs area of Sonoma Valley on May 3

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The Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management will hold an evacuation exercise on Saturday, May 3, for the Springs community north of Sonoma. This evacuation exercise is part of an annual series conducted by the Department of Emergency Management at various locations throughout Sonoma County.

The goal of the exercise is to help community members living in the Springs area practice an evacuation before a real emergency; test the SoCoAlert system to notify community members; and encourage individuals to register for the County’s alert system.

Details of the exercise:

When: Saturday, May 3, from 9 a.m. to noon  
Where: ‘The Springs’ area of Sonoma Valley, including the unincorporated communities of Agua Caliente, Fetters Hot Springs and parts of Boyes Hot Springs 
Who: Community members living in the Springs area 
Evacuate to: Participants will evacuate and head to Altimira Middle School at 17805 Arnold Drive in Sonoma, near the roundabout. 

Individuals who live in this community are encouraged to register for the exercise at SoCoTest.org. They will receive an alert at the times designated for their section. Hi-lo sirens will be audible throughout the exercise areas to alert participants to evacuate and familiarize the community with the sounds. Participants do not need to bring pets or animals with them. If they are, they must remain leashed during the exercise.

At Altimira Middle School, emergency partners will be providing information on how to prepare homes, families and pets in the event of a real emergency. Participants will be invited to take part in a survey to help the exercise coordinators learn what worked and identify areas for improvement for future exercises.

Emergency officials encourage community members to identify official sources of information now so that, during an emergency, they will have direct access to accurate and timely facts. Visit www.SoCoEmergency.org/Official-Information to view a list of local sources of official information.

Register to participate in this drill and learn more about evacuation exercises at www.SoCoTest.org. Registration closes on Wednesday, April 30. 

Please note: If an extreme weather event is forecast, the test alert and warning exercise will be canceled. 

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Media Contact:
Gilbert Martinez, Communications Specialist
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-3040
575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403