Never mind that we’ve just had another destructive wildfire, that the ground rumbles every few months and geologists say the big one’s due, that the whole county lost its power a year ago…disaster planning still doesn’t make everyone’s “to do” list.
But what if we said: Free giveaway! Emergency radio! First aid kit! Classic telephone!
Starting Thursday until the freebies run out, Sunroad Automotive—with help from San Diego Gas & Electric Co., the Auto Club of Southern California and the County Office of Emergency Services—will give anyone who registers for AlertSanDiego at one of six car dealerships a handy emergency tote stuffed with preparedness gadgets and goodies.
(UPDATE: The promotional totes and supplies have all been given away. Everyone is still encouraged to register for AlertSanDiego.)
“It is great to see that diverse partners with a stake in keeping the community safe have come together to build excitement about emergency preparedness,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Ron Roberts. “This weekend alone, we expect nearly a thousand people to register their cell phones and email addresses with the County’s AlertSanDiego reverse 911 system thanks to this promotion.”
The emergency tote includes an old-fashioned landline phone (as opposed to the cordless phones that won’t work when the power’s out); a hand-crank powered radio with built in flashlight and cell phone charger; an emergency first aid kit, an adult and a child’s “comfort kit” with toiletries such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, mild shampoo, soap, washcloths and deodorant, and a AAA San Diego County map.
To get a free emergency tote, people simply need to visit one of the six dealers listed below and register their cell phone, VoIP phone or email address with AlertSanDiego. The County’s reverse 911 notification system—which was most recently activated during the Shockey Fire to advise residents to evacuate—already contains the region’s landline numbers. But people increasingly rely on cell phones and email, and residents need to register those numbers and addresses with the system.
Sunroad has 800 totes to give away, and the promotion will continue until supplies last. The participating dealers are:
Pacific Honda, 4761 Convoy Street, San Diego; Kearny Mesa Hyundai Subaru, 4797 Convoy St., San Diego; Kearny Mesa Infiniti, 4670 Convoy St., San Diego; Kearny Pearson Ford, 7303 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego; BMW South County, 875 El Cajon Blvd., El Cajon; Toyota Chula Vista, 650 Main St., Chula Vista.
For dealership hours and phone numbers, people can visit sunroadauto.com.
Residents can also register for AlertSanDiego any time at readysandiego.org.
