Error-Prone Emergency Alerts Send Los Angeles County Residents into a Panic
Second Miscalculated Alert Sends Wrong Messages to Unaffected Areas
A second erroneous evacuation alert was sent overnight Friday to residents in areas unaffected by the ongoing wildfires in Los Angeles County. The alert, sent around 4 a.m. on Friday, urged recipients to be prepared to evacuate, when it was only intended for people near the Kenneth Fire.
Similar Mistake Made Earlier in the Day
This is not the first time the county has experienced an error. A similar mistake was made earlier on Thursday when an emergency alert intended for residents near the Kenneth Fire, burning in West Hills, was mistakenly sent to cell phones throughout Los Angeles, including in downtown Los Angeles, the South Bay, the Westside, and Orange County. A "correction" alert, complete with the blaring tone, was issued a few minutes later, explaining that the warning was specifically for a fire burning in the West Hills area, not for the entire county’s nearly 10 million residents.
Director of the County Office of Emergency Management Remarks
Kevin McGowan, director of the county Office of Emergency Management, assured that the alerts are not the result of human error. "There is no one sitting at a desk right now initiating emergency alerts. They are not being activated or initiated by a person," he said during a news briefing on Friday morning.
Confirming the Accuracy of Emergency Alerts
McGowan advised anyone who receives an emergency alert to confirm the accuracy using alertla.org, lacounty.gov/emergency, or by calling 211. "I implore everyone to not disable the messages on your phone. This is extremely frustrating, painful, and scary, but these alert tools have saved lives during this emergency. Not receiving an alert can be a consequence of life and death," he emphasized.
Solving the Problem is McGowan’s Top Priority
Solving this issue is currently McGowan’s top priority. "I am working, all hands on deck, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Integrated Public Alert and Warning team. We have every technical specialist working to resolve this issue and to find the root cause," he said.
Conclusion
The recent errors have caused frustration and panic among residents, but McGowan’s team is working diligently to resolve the issue. In the meantime, it is crucial for residents to remain informed and to verify the accuracy of any emergency alerts they receive.
FAQs
Q: What do I do if I receive an emergency alert?
A: Confirm the accuracy of the alert using alertla.org, lacounty.gov/emergency, or by calling 211.
Q: Why did I receive an emergency alert if I’m not in the affected area?
A: The county is working to resolve an issue causing erroneous alerts to be sent to areas not affected by the wildfires.
Q: How can I avoid receiving these incorrect alerts in the future?
A: Unfortunately, it is not possible to disable the emergency alert system, but you can confirm the accuracy of the alerts using the methods provided above.
