Sonoma County's tsunami warning test set for next week

Sonoma County officials will perform a public test of tsunami warning systems on March 27, it was announced Wednesday.

The test is being held as part of national tsunami awareness week, which starts Sunday.

The test is to be conducted and coordinated by the county fire and emergency services department.

There will be an airborne message system component, during which a Civil Air Patrol aircraft is to fly over the county's coastline broadcasting information to residents.

Residents will also be instructed from the air on how to provide feedback.

County transportation and public works crews will erect roadside message boards to alert residents to the test.

Also, residents in areas that could be impacted by a tsunami are to be called, in the first large-scale test of the telephone emergency notification system.

The warning test will be cancelled if there is significant seismic activity in the 24 hours prior to its scheduled start date, officials said.