From the University City Fire Safe Council: San Diego’s fire season is year-round. We are experiencing one of the driest periods in state history. It’s important that every resident prepare their home and their family for the possibility of a major fire. Be prepared and stay informed. Maintain situational awareness. During an emergency, residents can be notified about fire activity, evacuations, and temporary safe refuge areas via public service announcements on the radio, tv, reverse 9-1-1, and mobile devices.
The police department and emergency agencies issue wireless emergency alerts (WEA). Users are urged to enable their mobile devices to receive Emergency and Public Safety Alerts. Community members are urged to use mobile applications such as “PulsePoint”, “AlertSanDiego” and the “San Diego County Emergency” apps to get up to date emergency information.
Here is a brief list of helpful websites, notification systems, and apps with ways to prepare for disaster and to stay informed should a disaster occur. Most have full featured desktop versions as well as mobile apps available in the Apple App Store and/or the Google Play Store. Basic service is offered at no cost.
- AlertSanDiego is a regional notification system that will send telephone notifications to residents and businesses within San Diego County impacted by, or in danger of being impacted by, an emergency or disaster. Would you like to get emergency and evacuation notification messages by text or email? Register your cell phone number, Voice over IP (VoIP), and email address with AlertSanDiego to get evacuation and important incident information to your cell phone and email during an emergency in the San Diego area. Register today: https://www.readysandiego.org/alertsandiego/
- San Diego Emergency will help you to plan, prepare, and respond to an emergency. It will keep you and your family informed with emergency updates, evacuation orders, interactive emergency maps, and shelter locations. The San Diego Office of Emergency Services (OES) created the SD Emergency App to better prepare and inform San Diego residents and visitors about disasters. With SD Emergency, the tools you need to plan, prepare, and respond in an emergency are right at your fingertips. The San Diego Emergency app is available in English and in Spanish for iOS and Android mobile devices. Learn more about San Diego’s no cost SD Emergency app: ReadySanDiego.org/SDEmergencyApp/
- PulsePoint displays current San Diego Fire-Rescue Department and local fire agency activity (no audio) on its mobile app: https://www.pulsepoint.org/
- Broadcastify provides audio of SD City Police and Fire-Rescue Dispatch in both desktop and mobile app versions: http://www.broadcastify.com/listen/feed/2053
- Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA) and Public Safety Alerts are issued in an emergency by San Diego Police Department and other emergency Authorities. Users must enable their mobile devices to receive Emergency and Public Safety Alerts.
- American Red Cross offers information for Emergency Planning and Preparation: https://www.redcross.org/local/california/southern-california/about-us/locations/san-diego-imperial.html
- Ready, Set, Go! Wildland Fire Action Guide is the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department’s guide for preparing your home and family for fire. It’s available for download: https://www.sandiego.gov/fire/safety/tips/readysetgo
- Ready — Take personal responsibility and prepare long before the threat of a wildland fire, so your home is ready in case of a fire. Create defensible space by clearing brush away from your home. Use fire-resistant landscaping and harden your home with fire-safe construction measures. Assemble emergency supplies and belongings in a safe place. Plan escape routes and make sure all those residing within the home know the plan of action.
- Set — Pack your emergency items. Stay aware of the latest news and information on the fire from local media, your local fire department and public safety.
- Go –– Follow your personal wildland fire action plan. Doing so will not only support your safety, but will allow firefighters to best maneuver resources to combat the fire. If there is a possible threat to homes or evacuation routes, residents should not wait to be advised to leave. By leaving early, residents give themselves and their families the best chance of surviving a wildfire. They also help firefighters by keeping roads clear of congestion, enabling emergency personnel to move more freely and do their jobs in a safer environment. Residents should leave early enough to avoid being caught in fire, smoke, or road congestion. When advised to evacuate by the local Authorities, residents should not hesitate.
To learn more about the University City Fire Safe Council, visit https://www.universitycitynews.org/fire-safe-council-university-city/
