Written by Craig Reed, field supervisor for Border Region (Imperial and San Diego counties) with the Climate Resilience and Disaster Preparedness Program at CORE.

CORE (Community Organized Relief Effort) is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that responds to disasters around the world. We deliver life-saving resources in the immediate aftermath – and empower communities to be self-reliant in the long run.

San Diego County saw record rainfalls not that long ago that threatened to flood many of our homes with the storm itself, causing power outages in more rural areas. More recently, scorching, unseasonable temperatures have made outdoor activities and living in homes without air conditioning hazardous – especially for our seniors and young children.

#1 – Get Alerts

News websites, social media, and radio stations can be useful sources of information if you want to verify that something you’ve noticed is indeed an issue in your neighborhood. Alerts, however, can notify you of emergencies when you’re focused on other things or wake you up in the middle of the night for situations that require your immediate attention.

You can sign up for alerts by going to CalAlerts.org, clicking on “Sign Up” and then selecting the county you live in. If you prefer downloading an app on your phone, those who live in San Diego County can download “Alert San Diego” from the app store of your choice. This will provide you with most of the alerts you’ll probably want. Other apps such as Genasys Project, PulsePoint, and Watch Duty, are worth exploring as well.
 

#2 – Have a Plan

Who are the people you might need to contact in case of an emergency? Where should the family meet up if something happens while everyone is away from home, using a cell phone, or returning home is not possible? These are just some of the questions you’ll want to ask yourself as you create your plan.

Make a list of names of those you would want to check on in case of an emergency or a weather event. Consider making a list of out-of-town contacts you can reach out to in case you need to relocate to a safer place.

In addition, it's helpful to have contact information for local government agencies and utility companies (e.g., fire department, police, power company, gas company, and water company to name a few), as well as local nonprofits that support families during an emergency.

As part of your plan, make sure you identify multiple safe places you can relocate to should your home, work, or school be affected by a disaster. Be certain to print out maps to each location, so you’ll be able to navigate them even if there is no cell phone coverage in your area.

#3 – Build a “Go Bag”

#4 – Create a “Stay Box”

If staying home is the safest option during an emergency, you might not have running water or electricity to cook food, take a shower, or flush the toilet. Ideally, have three gallons of water per person in your Stay Box for drinking and washing. Store enough non-perishable foods you like to feed yourself and your loved ones for three days or longer. Don’t forget your pets and their needs. Lastly, set aside some plastic bags, twist ties, and a bucket so you can make an emergency toilet.

#5 – Help Others in Your Neighborhood

Conclusion

Every place has disasters from time to time, and the types of emergencies (e.g., wildfire, flooding, extreme heat, etc.) will be a little different for each community. Fortunately, these five steps can help you be prepared and keep yourself and your family safer during a disaster in your area.

Before you start your day, please review the steps listed above and pick one to work on right now. Just downloading one app or taking five minutes to gather a handful of items into a bag or an unused backpack makes you and your family that much more ready for the next storm, power outage, or wildfire.

For more resources, check out the state’s Disaster Preparedness Guide or the San Diego County Disaster Guide, which is especially useful for families who have someone who needs additional support.