Prepping in San Diego
San Diego's biggest threat is fire pushed by Santa Ana winds. The 2007 fires forced more than half a million people to evacuate, and a fault runs right under downtown.
- Wildfire
- Earthquakes
- Flash flooding
Sign up today
The official San Diego alert and lookup tools. Each takes a few minutes and works even if you do nothing else on this page.
- AlertSanDiegoSign up for AlertSanDiego
The county's emergency alerts. Register your cell phone and email; landlines are already in the system.
- MyShake appGet MyShake
Free earthquake early warning from the ShakeAlert system. It can give you a few seconds to drop, cover and hold on before shaking arrives.
- Genasys ProtectFind your evacuation zone
San Diego County uses evacuation zones. Look up your address, subscribe to your zone and keep the zone name in your go-bag.
Links checked October 2026. Wireless Emergency Alerts reach most phones automatically; these add local detail.
What can go wrong in San Diego
- Wind-driven wildfire
- The 2003 Cedar Fire and 2007 Witch Creek fires burned into neighborhoods; in 2007, more than 500,000 people evacuated.
- Earthquakes
- The Rose Canyon fault runs through La Jolla and downtown San Diego.
- Flash flooding
- In January 2024, a sudden downpour flooded homes in several San Diego neighborhoods.
- Heat
- Inland communities regularly pass 100°F.
What that means for your plan
During Santa Ana season, keep a go-bag in the car and your phone charged, and leave when a warning is issued for your zone instead of waiting for an order.
Earthquake basics apply too: two weeks of water, a strapped water heater and anchored furniture.
Smoke can last for days even when the fire is far away. N95s and a HEPA purifier keep a home livable.
Do these first, in this order
- AlertSanDiego and your zone
Ten minutes now, and you'll know when to leave.
Radios and communication guide - Go-bag in the car during fire season
Ready to leave in 10 minutes.
Go-bags and evacuation guide - Two weeks of water
For earthquakes and long outages.
Water storage and filters guide - N95s and a HEPA purifier
Smoke days.
Go-bags and evacuation guide - Power station
For outages and power shutoffs.
Power stations and generators guide - Strap and anchor
Water heater and tall furniture.
Questions
How do I find my evacuation zone in San Diego County?
Look up your address in Genasys Protect (protect.genasys.com) and subscribe to your zone. Officials issue evacuation warnings and orders by zone.
How do I sign up for AlertSanDiego?
Register your cell phone and email at AlertSanDiego.org. Landline numbers are already included.
How ready is your San Diego home?
The quiz weights every item for wildfire country risks and shows your top gaps. About 3 minutes, no sign-up.