Twain Harte Fire Department (THFD) will test its Emergency Alert Horn at noon on Saturday, June 22. Three long blasts will sound from the horn, which is set atop the fire station located in downtown Twain Harte at 18781 Cedar Drive.

The test will be conducted simultaneously with Tuolumne County Sheriff’s Office/Office of Emergency Services’ test of the Everbridge Citizen Alert System. According to the county’s website, the system “allows residents and visitors to receive alerts issued by the Tuolumne County Sheriff Office of imminent threats and emergency warnings.” To sign up online, visit https://www.tuolumnecounty.ca.gov/1170/Emergency-Alert-Sign-Up-Page.

The community is invited to assist THFD with gathering data on the horn’s audibility range. Those who hear Saturday’s test blasts are encouraged to visit https://arcg.is/1ryeLy and complete the online form.

Although once a central component of THFD’s operations, the Emergency Alert Horn now is used as a secondary alert system for incidents requiring mass notification. It is an effective means of notifying those without cell phones and those who may be sleeping. Three long blasts of the horn alert the public to check broadcast and/or online sources for emergency information and instructions.

THFD stresses the importance of having a battery-operated AM/FM radio to access such information in an emergency and to sign up for alerts via the county’s Everbridge system. More emergency preparedness information is available in THFD’s Wildland Fire Action Guide, available here: https://www.twainhartecsd.com/files/c0c32a3fa/THFD+RSG+action+guide.pdf.

For further information on Saturday’s Emergency Alert Horn test, contact Fire Chief Todd McNeal, (209) 586-4800, tmcneal@twainhartecsd.com.