Sonoma County conducted a live trial run of its overhauled emergency alert system Wednesday, marking a closely-watched bid to see how well local governments can warn the public about disasters and other dangers nearly one year after the most destructive wildfire in state history.
Starting at 10 a.m., the county and Santa Rosa sent a series of test messages aimed at thousands of cellphones in five target locations using the federal Wireless Emergency Alerts system — the same program the county controversially opted not to use during last October’s wildfires, leaving many residents without any official warning.
The test was believed to be the first of its kind on the West Coast.
“Almost a year ago, we were smacked in the face by the most catastrophic wildfire in California’s history,” Sonoma County Board of Supervisors Chairman James Gore told reporters after the test.