As the Chariot fire mushrooms in the East County, now is the time to add the SD Emergency app to your smartphone if you haven’t already. You’ll get information about evacuations, road closures, emergency shelters and more.
The app is free and takes just a few minutes to download. It can also help you create a personal preparedness plan or update your current one.
Other highlights:
- The app allows you to store information including out-of-state contacts, emergency phone numbers, meeting places, evacuation plans and other practical information.
- Provides quick tips on preparing for the most-likely disasters in our area and general tips on responding to those emergencies
- Provides a list of basic supplies to help build an emergency kit and the capability to add personal items specific to your family.
County emergency officials also recommend you have extra batteries and car-charger adapters. You may even consider buying a solar or hand-crank charger. Also, keep your electrical devices in a waterproof bag, just in case.
To conserve battery power on your mobile phone during a disaster, keep texts or calls brief, avoid streaming videos and downloading music or videos since it can lead to network congestion.
Emergency managers also recommend people send brief text messages rather than making phone calls since phone lines are often overwhelmed in a disaster. You should call 9-1-1 only during a life-threatening incident.
To learn more about disaster preparedness, visit www.readysandiego.org/ or go directly to www.sdcountyemergency.com and download the free app to your mobile phone.
