False alert!

Last Sunday, around 4pm a loud buzz from my phone got my full attention. The large message said: “Your residence has been placed in a GO Status. EVACUATE NOW!” As anyone should, we took that very seriously and switched into a panic mode, but there was no fire in view, no sirens and nothing, so we went out of our house, looked around, saw our next door neighbor on his e-bike going around to see where the fire was.

Then we talked to more neighbors and came to the conclusion that no matter how ominous the message was, this was a false alert, an option we unanimously preferred! Plenty of strong emotions to wrap up the weekend. That “Go” evacuation notice sent to cell phones across Park City and the South Summit Fire District was issued in error according to Skyler Talbot with the Summit County Sheriff’s office. 

The alert applies only to residents on West Henefer Road and East Canyon Road, some 28 miles (50 km) distant from Park City, as the crow flies. Obviously no one bother to dismiss it in the same manner. “There are no pre-evacuation or evacuation notices for South Summit Fire District,” the South Summit Fire District said, noting Summit County sent the alert by mistake. Park City residents also received the erroneous notification. 

Now we know how an evacuation notice feels like, but we still have to develop a pragmatic household plan for it!