Cal OES Shows Off 53-Foot Mobile Command Unit, Urges Sacramento Residents to Sign Up for Emergency Alerts

Cal OES opened its doors to media Thursday for a Preparedness Month showcase, and the centerpiece was hard to miss: a 53-foot Mobile Command Unit designed to keep emergency communications running even when power and networks go down. The rolling operations center can be deployed anywhere in California, carrying the same capabilities as the State Warning Center back at headquarters.

State officials used the event to push a simple message. Sign up for Cal Alerts, California’s emergency notification system. Matt Notley, Cal OES Deputy Director of Crisis Communication, said the goal is reminding residents that small steps make a big difference, while also pulling back the curtain on the work happening behind the scenes. The agency also highlighted its partnerships with fire crews, law enforcement, and community organizations, plus Ready California, which connects residents to local preparedness resources and summits.

For Sacramento, the stakes are familiar. We live in wildfire and earthquake country, and the region has seen plenty of smoky skies and red flag warnings in recent years. Whether you’re near the American River Parkway, out in the foothills, or right in the grid, a few minutes of planning now pays off later. Sign up for alerts, build a basic kit, and know your evacuation route.

Have you signed up for Cal Alerts yet? Let us know what’s holding you back.