Santa Monica residents have another way to receive emergency information directly from public safety agencies, with the city’s fire department announcing Wednesday it has joined a statewide mobile application providing near real-time updates about wildfires, evacuations and other emergencies.
The Santa Monica Fire Department is participating in AwareCA alongside other fire agencies throughout the Los Angeles region as part of a coordinated effort supported by the Los Angeles Area Fire Chiefs Association, officials said.
The free application, launched statewide earlier this month by Cal Fire and its partners, provides incident information, interactive emergency maps, evacuation warnings and orders, shelter locations and other public safety updates from participating agencies.
“Our community trusts us to provide accurate information when it matters most,” Santa Monica Fire Chief Matt Hallock said. “By participating in AwareCA, we’re giving our residents another direct way to receive information from our department while also connecting them with agencies across the region. Emergencies don’t stop at city boundaries, and neither should access to trusted public safety information.”
The Los Angeles Area Fire Chiefs Association includes fire service leaders from 29 departments throughout the region, allowing agencies to coordinate on operational, technological and public safety issues.
Hallock said AwareCA extends that regional cooperation to emergency communications while allowing individual departments to maintain control over the information they release.
“LAAFCA agencies have a long history of working together operationally,” Hallock said. “AwareCA extends that collaboration to the communities we serve. The goal is simple: make it easier for residents to find trusted information directly from the public safety agencies responsible for protecting them.”
The app allows users to save up to 10 locations, including their homes, workplaces, schools and the homes of family members, and establish notification areas around those locations.
Users can also receive alerts based on their mobile device’s location, select the types of incidents they want to follow and determine how frequently they receive notifications.
Officials said updates published by participating agencies can reach users within seconds.
AwareCA also provides information about wildfires and other emergencies across California, including floods, earthquakes, severe weather and hazardous materials incidents.
The platform was developed by technology company Intterra in collaboration with California fire service and public safety partners. Participating departments retain control over their own information and determine what can be released through established incident command and public information procedures.
Santa Monica officials emphasized that the app will supplement, rather than replace, the city’s existing emergency notification systems, website, social media and other communication channels.
“We aren’t asking residents to rely on a single source during an emergency,” Hallock said. “We are asking them to make sure one of their sources is the agency responsible for managing the incident. AwareCA makes that easier.”
The application is free, contains no advertising and does not solicit donations, according to the department.
Residents are encouraged to download the app before an emergency, save locations they want to monitor and enable notifications.
AwareCA is available for iPhone and Android devices through Apple’s App Store and Google Play. Additional information is available at aware.ca.gov.