Ellen Perrault
As many San Bernardino County residents made their way home from holiday travels, weather and natural disaster emergencies were hopefully not part of their holiday experience.
Disaster, however, can strike at any time and by registering for county emergency alerts. This is not only important during the holidays but throughout the year.
In an effort to quickly communicate information on impending dangers, the San Bernardino County Sheriff and Fire Departments send high-speed mass notifications via telephone and text messages through a system known as the Telephone Emergency Notification System (TENS).
The county uses a database of landline telephone numbers, which is updated every six months, to send emergency messages to landline phones only. By signing up, residents can also receive emergency text messages to their cell phones, add voice over internet phone numbers (V.O.I.P.), and manage their own account using a valid email address.
Those without internet connections can sign up by calling 211 or 909-980-2857 for assistance in registering. TENS alerts do not generally go out to the entire county but instead are targeted to the affected areas.
Registrants must enter a valid San Bernardino County address to receive TENS alert notifications when an emergency arises in your area. Since so few residents now have landlines, registering your cell phone can essential to receiving these important notifications.
To sign up for the TENS alert system visit Smart911. To learn more about how to prepare for an emergency, visit the San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services’ website at oes.sbcounty.gov.