At the Alert or Site Area Emergency classification levels, the County may recommend some precautionary actions that affect a limited number of people in a specific area. News releases will be carried by the media to inform the public about precautionary actions being taken by the County or by public school districts. Normally, the sirens will not sound when precautionary actions are taken. Precautionary actions may take place early in the emergency, even if people are not in immediate danger. Some examples of precautionary actions are listed below.

Closing public schools (click here to learn more).
Restricting hospital admissions.
Canceling activities expected to draw visitors to the area.
Closing Montaña de Oro State Park and other parks, recreation areas, and beaches.

Using school buses early in the emergency helps because these buses can then be used to transport other people should the emergency become more serious. Moving people out of parks and beaches early helps as well. Police and fire department resources used to notify people at parks and beaches will be available to help the general population if the situation worsens.

If the emergency becomes more serious and SLO County decision makers determine that the general public in one or more of the Protective Action Zones may need to evacuate or shelter, the Early Warning System sirens will sound. Following the use of the sirens, information about the emergency situation, protective actions that may be recommended and instructions will be broadcast from the Emergency Alert System to all local radio and television stations.