Household Disaster Preparedness
How are we doing?
In 2017, the County’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) commissioned a preparedness study to get an idea of how well residents are prepared for emergencies. The study included several survey questions looking at things such as community risk perception, emergency preparedness, communication, and the ability to safely evacuate. Based on the survey, 85% of respondents indicated they have taken at least one significant step toward household disaster preparedness.
How is it measured?
The 2017 preparedness study was distributed randomly to San Diego County residents over age 18. The survey received 1,075 responses. Respondents were asked which of the following disaster preparedness activities and/or resource purchases they had made in the past two years:
- An emergency preparedness plan
- Flood insurance
- Homeowners or renter’s insurance
- 72-hour kit/Disaster supply kit
- An evacuation plan
- A weather radio
- Been a CERT member
- Registered or have been registered for AlertSanDiego
- Downloaded the SD Emergency app on my smartphone or tablet
- Attended a meeting on how to be prepared for a disaster
- Talked about preparedness with others in my community
- Visited readysandiego.org for emergency preparedness information
- Maintained defensible space around my residence
Why is it important?
There are more than 3.3 million people living in San Diego County. It is a great place to live, but the county is at risk for emergencies, such as wildfires and earthquakes. As seen across the country and world, first responders can get overwhelmed immediately following disasters. We want to inform residents about personal preparedness to make sure residents stay safe.
Where are we going?
The Office of Emergency Services will be conducting another preparedness study in 2020. There will be a new Chief Resiliency Officer to design and direct the implementation of a Countywide resiliency strategy. Also, there will be quarterly outreach campaigns that feature partnerships with external businesses and integration of the 4th grade hazard curriculum into local schools. This will ensure preparedness stays a priority in the San Diego Region; and we should see positive changes when do the 2020 study.