Yazoo City, MS, April 29, 2010 -- This building was totally destroyed by the deadly tornado of April 24, 2010.  George Armstrong/FEMA

With fire season upon us and winter months approaching, there is no better time to prepare for a disaster – events that often occur with little to no warning – by registering with the mass notification system at Sacramento-Alert.org. Register now before a disaster hits, so public safety officials can call, text or email you in the event of a disaster.

Consider the state’s historic drought causing elevated wildfire danger, or winter storms and the many levees surrounding our urban core. Both events can occur rapidly, sometimes forcing evacuations, shelter in place orders and road closures. The regional mass notification system is a critical link for you to immediately learn of required actions.

It’s easy to sign up and your information is protected. Officials will only text during an emergency or public safety event, or if public help is needed to find a missing child or adult.

The unique feature of the system is the ability to handle more than one contact method for residents including cell phones, alternate numbers, text, email and even landlines. You choose the best notification method or chose them all. You can also register multiple locations, such as your work address, your parent’s address or your children’s school, in order to get alerts about the places that mean the most to you. For more information or to register alternate phone numbers or e-mail addresses, visit www.sacramento-alert.org.