Butte County wants more residents to have emergency ALERT FM devices and is giving them away for free.
The receivers use FM radio signals to deliver official emergency alerts to homes during disasters like wildfires and severe weather even when cell service is limited.
“We’re really hoping for a rush, honestly,” said Katie Simmons, Butte County’s Deputy Chief Administrative Officer.
Grant funding will provide up to 1,500 of the devices, she said. The program is limited to residents of unincorporated communities that meet certain income requirements.
“We're really hoping for households that have maybe heard about the ALERT FM device, but have not applied for one before, have not purchased one before, to really take advantage of this opportunity to see if they're eligible,” Simmons said.
Applications are in person and begin from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow, July 9, at the Butte County Health Department in Oroville.
Additional sign up events will be offered the first Friday of each month through December.
