Oakland emergency updates start with AC Alert

Oakland’s first signup is AC Alert. It is Alameda County’s free, opt-in system for voice calls, texts, and emails. Nixle is a different service, so a Nixle account does not enroll you in AC Alert. Add the places that matter, such as home, work, or school, so an alert can reach you for the right area.

Genasys Protect is the city’s evacuation-zone map and app. Most Oakland zone names begin with OKL. The map helps you learn your zone, and the app can send its own notices. A colored map or saved zone is not, by itself, an evacuation order. Follow the current AC Alert, Genasys notice, or public-safety instruction that names your zone.

Oakland also has 25 outdoor warning sirens. A three-minute steady tone means shelter in place. A slow wail points to a possible tsunami, and a fast wail points to fire. The monthly test is a 30-second slow wail at noon on the first Wednesday. If you hear a siren at another time, check AC Alert and Genasys Protect and tune to KCBS 740 AM or 106.9 FM for instructions.

These channels overlap on purpose, but they are not interchangeable. Sign up for AC Alert, learn your Genasys zone, and treat the exact protective action in a live message as the part that matters most.