The City of Thousand Oaks debuted the "T.O. City Alert" a telephone based emergency notification system in December 2008. City alert allows local officials to quickly communicate critical information to thousands of residents and businesses during an emergency.  (NOTE: Effective 1/3/12, the T.O. City Alert system will be incorporated into the broader VC Alert system.)

While the system is pre-loaded with residential and business land line phone numbers through the City's 9-1-1 database, residents can provide additional contact information on this site. Residents can manage their “City Alert” profile online, controlling contact methods and communication path – cell phone, home phone, email, text messaging, fax, pager, PDA and more. To provide your additional contact information now, click here.

T.O. City Alert Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the “Thousand Oaks City Alert” program?
The service allows authorized City leaders to create and rapidly disseminate time-sensitive messages to every telephone number and email address stored in the notification database.

How does the notification system work?
The notification system enables the City, with one call or a few clicks of a computer mouse, to communicate with thousands of residents, businesses and neighbors anywhere, anytime, via home phone, cell phone, business phone, or email address.

What types of messages will be sent using the service?
Any message regarding the safety or welfare of our community would be disseminated using the “Thousand Oaks City Alert” system. Examples include unexpected road or bridge closures, or the need to evacuate buildings or neighborhoods because of a local earthquake, fire or flood, or any other situation that could impact the safety, property, or welfare of our residents.

How do I include my contact information in the notification database?
Initially the system was populated with listed home telephone numbers from the City's 9-1-1 database. The City has also provided a registration page for residents and businesses who would like to provide additional contact information such as a cell phone, business phone or email address.

My phone number is a cell phone with a non-local area code. Will the “Thousand Oaks City Alert ” service call numbers outside the area?
Yes. The area code does not impact whether or not a call is made.

How does the “Thousand Oaks City Alert” system respond to busy signals or no-answer situations?
For busy signals, the call will be repeated several times in an attempt to reach you. The same is true for No-answer and Call-waiting. If the phone is answered by a message recorder, the message will be left on the answering device. If, after several attempts the call does not successfully go through, the system will stop attempting to call.

I registered several communication devices; will the system contact me on each one?
The system will continue to cycle through each and every communication device available until the message is delivered and confirmed by the recipient. To confirm a message, you must listen to the entire message and then press 1.

Will my personal information be shared with any third party organizations?
To protect the privacy of your personal information, a provision has been included in the contract with the City’s vendor that maintains the confidentiality of your information. Your personal information will not be shared with any third party organizations.

I am not a resident of Thousand Oaks, but I live in a nearby community. Can I register my contact information into the system?
The City recognizes that, should an emergency occur, it may impact citizens in other areas. However, similar notification systems have been established by neighboring jurisdictions. Please click here for contact/program information for other cities.

Visit toaks.org/living/disaster/to_city_alert.asp to learn more and sign up!