Evacuation alert spurs ‘panic and confusion’ in Los Angeles, but it was a mistake

An evacuation alert that caused “panic and confusion” among Los Angeles residents was sent in error, emergency officials reported.

“Chevy Chase Canyon residents safely evacuate your home and proceed to evacuation site located at Glendale Community College Parking Lot B,” the alert, sent at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 14, said, according to the Los Angeles Times.

But the alert, part of an evacuation drill, was meant to be seen only by Chevy Chase Canyon residents, the city of Glendale said in a news release.

City officials blamed “a glitch in the messaging system” for the error. Follow-up alerts and Twitter posts noted the alert was part of a drill and had been sent by mistake.

Fire Chief Silvio Lanzas apologized for the error but said officials and residents must prepare for wildfire season, particularly after a Laguna Niguel blaze destroyed several homes.

“Why am I being texted with this on the amber alert system if I live in Brentwood,” one person wrote on Twitter in response to the alert.

“Great way to cause panic and confusion for nearby residents, guys,” read another Twitter post.

“I didn’t even know where Chevy Chase Canyon was,” another resident reported on Twitter.

“It would have been less upsetting to have woken up on fire than getting this text messages here in Pomona, great job,” a Twitter post read, according to the Los Angeles Times.

This story was originally published May 15, 2022 at 9:40 AM with the headline "Evacuation alert spurs ‘panic and confusion’ in Los Angeles, but it was a mistake."