Emergency Managers may need to deliver an important safety message to you quickly. We have a number of “tools” in our “tool box” that allows critical information to get to you in the quickest possible fashion. Following are a few of the methods that may be used to communicate with you – as well as general hazard definitions used by the National Weather Service during a weather or hydrologic emergency.
Key Sources of Emergency Alerts and Information:
EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM – Emergency information delivered via every radio and TV station, as well as all cable companies in County. The primary local EAS stations are:
Emergency Notification System
VC ALERT is an emergency notification system that may be used to deliver alerts when there is a threat to the health and safety of Oxnard residents. Citizens may opt to receive telephone, email, text, fax or instant emergency and non-emergency community messages. To ensure we have your current contact information go to www.VCAlert.org or call 805-648-9283.
NOAA WEATHER RADIO All Hazards (NWR)
Broadcasts warning and post-event information for all types of hazards – including natural
(Such as flood or tsunami), environmental (such as chemical releases or oil spills), and public safety (such as AMBER alerts or 911 Telephone outages). Weather radios can be purchased virtually anywhere radios are sold.
General Hazard Definitions
The National Weather Service uses these terms to define threatening weather or hydrologic hazards:
WARNING– Life and/or property threatening hazard is imminent or occurring. Take immediate action!
ADVISORY– Nuisance-level hazard is imminent or occurring. A non-life threatening event, but may cause problems if precautions are not taken.
WATCH– Life and/or property threatening hazard possible. Conditions are favorable, but there is some uncertainty. Can be upgraded to a warning or advisory.