CALISTOGA, California — Wildfire and other emergencies can develop quickly in Napa Valley. Two preparedness steps are especially relevant for Calistoga residents: registering for local alerts and recognizing the evacuation warning sound used by public safety vehicles.
Register for Alert Napa County
The City of Calistoga says the Police Department uses Alert Napa County, a free public emergency-notification service. According to the city’s registration guidance, county emergency management and public safety agencies can send messages about threats such as severe weather, road closures, evacuations, natural disasters and public-health concerns.
Residents can set up notices to reach a mobile phone, a home or work telephone, or an email address, depending on available options. The service also offers certain non-emergency community alerts. Cellular-provider messaging charges may still apply. Registration is useful, but residents should maintain multiple ways to receive official information if power or communications are disrupted.
What does the Hi-Lo siren mean?
Calistoga’s public safety guidance explains that Napa County emergency vehicles use a distinctive two-tone Hi-Lo siren to warn people of an immediate need to evacuate. It is different from an ordinary emergency-vehicle siren. The city advises residents who hear this evacuation warning to treat it as an immediate threat and evacuate the area.
Do not wait for a social-media rumor to identify the threat. Follow instructions from responding agencies and consult official information for evacuation zones and routes as soon as it is safe to do so.
Three practical household steps
- Enroll or review contact information in Alert Napa County; keep phone numbers current.
- Identify your evacuation zone and more than one possible route from home or work.
- Prepare essential medications, identification, chargers, water and a plan for pets before an emergency.
This article is a preparedness guide, not a report of an active evacuation order. For current incidents or orders, always consult the county and city directly.
Sources: City of Calistoga — Alert Napa County; City of Calistoga — Staying Safe in an Emergency.
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