Del Mar and Solana Beach want residents signed up for two free emergency alert tools before the next emergency.
The two cities launched a joint Emergency Preparedness Month campaign on Wednesday, Sept. 2, urging residents to register for Alert San Diego and download the Genasys Protect app. Both tools send notifications about evacuations, road closures and other emergencies.
The campaign, posted on the Solana Beach city website, runs through Sept. 30.
Why it matters
Neither app works automatically on a cell phone. Alert San Diego, the County of San Diego's official notification system, already reaches landline phones. But cell phones, internet phones and email addresses must be registered at alertsandiego.org to receive targeted alerts. The county says registration is confidential and used only for emergencies.
Both apps are free.
The Alert San Diego app, formerly called SD Emergency, was developed by the county's Office of Emergency Services. It includes a live map showing evacuation zones, shelters and road closures in near real time.
Genasys Protect is a separate app used by local officials to push zone-based safety instructions during emergencies. It does not store personal information, according to Genasys. Users who enable location services receive alerts when they enter a threatened area.
What the cities are asking
The joint campaign laid out several steps for residents:
- Download both apps and enable notifications and location services now, before an emergency.
- Help family members, neighbors and older adults get connected.
- Watch a Del Mar TV video on the city's emergency preparedness page that covers building an evacuation kit, utility shutoffs and the Neighborhood Emergency Support Team, a volunteer program that matches helpers with residents who need assistance.
The cities also cautioned that no single notification system should be a resident's only source of information. During an emergency, residents should monitor local authorities, follow evacuation instructions and call 911 if in immediate danger.
Building a kit
Emergency responders recommend being self-sufficient for at least three days. The City of Del Mar's emergency supply checklist calls for one gallon of water per person per day, a three-day supply of non-perishable food, a battery-powered or hand-crank radio, flashlight, first aid kit, whistle, dust mask and local maps.
The campaign does not list any specific events or deadlines beyond the end of September.
