Most county, city residents automatically enrolled in new emergency alert software
Residents of Reno, Sparks, and unincorporated Washoe County have received or will soon receive a notice in their sewer bills regarding Smart911, the region’s emergency alert system. The notice informs customers that they have been automatically enrolled in Smart911 using the contact information associated with their sewer accounts. Smart911 delivers geographically targeted emergency alerts, such as evacuation orders or shelter-in-place notices, through cell phone, landline, or email, depending on the contact method linked to each account. These alerts differ from the broader emergency messages broadcast on television and radio, which often cover entire regions.