Alerts & Emergency Notifications

Emergency Response AND Alerts FAQ 

This Myths and Facts sheet provides information about wildfire and disaster response, from the time a 911 call is placed to disaster notification messages going out to residents being evacuated.

DISASTER NOTIFICATIONS 

On Thursday, September 3, the City conducted a test of the Disaster Notification System as part of ongoing efforts to improve disaster preparedness and to test an improvement of the system that greatly increases the City's ability to reach residents via cell phones. Everbridge, the City's service provider reached an agreement with cellphone companies to provide government agencies, including Malibu, with cellphone numbers in their jurisdictions. Until now, phone companies provided only landline numbers to the City, and the only cell phone numbers the City had access to were from people who registered on the system independently. Now, the City increased the number of cellphones in the system from approximately 3,600 to about 12,000. This is a critical tool because only about half of American households still have landlines. All information will be kept strictly confidential and will not be shared with third parties. 

Any resident that did not receive a test message on September 3 may call City Hall at 310-456-2489 ext. 368 or email publicsafety@malibucity.org and staff will make sure they are in the system.  

DURING MAJOR EMERGENCIES ONLY

When an emergency situation poses an imminent threat to public health and safety, or when evacuations are ordered by law enforcement or another agency, the City of Malibu will utilize the Everbridge Disaster Notification system to notify the community. Most landline phone numbers within city limits are provided by telecom providers to the City and entered into the Everbridge database. However, to receive alerts by cell phone call or text messages, residents must log in, create a profile, and enter their contact information. The City can use the system to send messages by cell phone call, text, land line call, email, and app messages simultaneously, and can target specific neighborhoods. 

To sign up, visit www.MalibuCity.org/DisasterNotification.

WEBSITE NOTIFICATIONS

UPDATE - May 25, 2023 - In an effort to streamline its emergency communications processes, and in light of the abundance of traffic news and information readily available to the public, the City will now be providing traffic alerts only during business hours for full road closures (not lane closures); in case of emergencies; or in case of planned or extended closures (such as road or utility projects). 

The City uses this website's Alert Center to post and send notifications that go to subscribers by email and text message on low-level emergencies, road closures, serious beach advisories (such as sewage spills or dangerous conditions), utility advisories (widespread or long-lasting power, water, or gas outages), and weather advisories (dangerous wind, rain, heat, etc.). Residents can sign up for multiple categories, and opt out at any time. 

To sign up, visit the e-Notifications page, scroll down to "Alert Center," and select "Traffic," "Emergency," or any other category by clicking the phone icon for text messages or the envelope icon to receive an email. You may choose either or both for each individual category according to your personal preference.

Low-Level Emergencies

The City uses the website Alert Center to notify the community about low-level, non-life threatening emergencies, for example, in case of a minor mudslide or flooding, or in the very early stages of a fire. The intention is to make the community aware that a situation exists that could evolve into a major emergency. During these events, City leadership and staff are aware of the situation, monitoring developments, and are in communication with the Sheriff's and Fire Departments, and other relevant agencies. 

Traffic Advisories

The City only posts traffic advisories for incidents that have been verified by a law enforcement agency, involve a lane closure on Pacific Coast Highway (PCH), any City street, or major connector road, such as Kanan, Malibu Cyn, Topanga Cyn, or Las Virgenes, expected to last longer than 30 minutes, impacting mobility for the Malibu community.  

Utility Advisories

The City will post a utility advisory when advised by the service provider, such as SCE or Los Angeles County Waterworks District 29, of a service interruption, including power outages or water main breaks. 

Weather Advisories

A weather advisory will be sent when significant weather conditions pose a threat to health or safety. Examples of weather advisories would be when the National Weather Service issues a Red Flag Warning or Wind Advisory due to forecasted Santa Ana wind conditions that increase the risk of fire or potential for power outages or Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS), or when significant rain storms are forecasted that could cause flooding, rock, mud, or debris slides that threaten homes or traffic risks.

NIXLE - discontinued

UPDATE - May 25, 2023 - The City has discontinued the Nixle alerting service, which is redundant since Nixle was bought by Everbridge, the system that Malibu uses for disaster notifications. All Nixle subscribers have been merged into the Everbridge system, and will still receive alerts from the City. Eliminating the Nixle system will reduce the time and number of steps it takes to put out emergency messaging.

The City will continue to use the website alert system for lower-level emergencies, traffic incidents, utility advisories, and beach advisories by text and email to subscribers when necessary. To sign up for website alerts, or add or remove alert subscriptions, visit the webpage and scroll to “Alert Center.”

PHONE HOTLINE 

For residents who may not have access to the internet, the City's phone hotline offers the ability to hear information about traffic lane closures and emergency situations.

To call the hotline, dial 310-456-9982. The hotline does not record messages. If you wish to report an emergency situation, call 911 or contact the Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff's Station directly at 310-456-6652.