Alert SF was announced on the 17th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake that shook the Bay Area back in 1989. Mayor Gavin Newson announced a public text-based system that will alert San Francisco's residents in the event of a large earthquake, tsunami, or storm, and even send out post-disaster information.

Registration is free, and you can sign up for an individual account to add multiple devices, such as a cell phone, PDA, and even an email account. It limits you to two devices and two email address, which means if you have more than two people in your household, you'll need to get another account. Not very convenient.

I absolutely applaud the effort, though, and hope it extends to the rest of the Bay Area. If you don't want to register for an account, you should at least register to the RSS feed, especially if you live in the Bay Area. 

I can see how families with relatives working or living in the San Francisco area also will benefit from this service. They'll be the first to know if their loved one is in danger, since they'll receive a warning before it's broadcasted on the radio or television.

A few months ago, I heard how police officers in the Bay Area were driving up and down the coast warning people on the beach about a possible tsunami. I think SMS alerts will be a safer way for everyone to find out about real threats, even when disconnected from the rest of the world. 

Last year, police in London launched a similar SMS campaign called "terror text" to alert commuters of any threats following the London bombings. Getting an SMS message will certainly help those who don't watch the news or listen to the radio. It seems no matter where we are, you can always catch us on our cell phones.

What do you think about this new system? Will it help you in case of an emergency?