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CITY GUIDES/CALIFORNIA/SAN DIEGO

SAN DIEGO EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS GUIDE

Prepare for emergencies
in San Diego.

Prepare for wildfire evacuations, winter flooding, coastal tsunami hazards, earthquakes and heat. Use local maps, alerts, monthly weather charts and household planning tools.

San Diego County · California

Build my household plan →Find evacuation resources →
San Diego skyline
SAN DIEGO COUNTYSan Diego,
California
A view of San Diego. Historical city photograph; see source credit for the original date.
Photo: Whoismanu · credit and license

This guide covers the City of San Diego. County alerts and hazard resources cover a larger area. The airport’s coastal averages can be much cooler than inland neighborhoods; check the forecast for your location. Historical data and planning tools; check official sources for current conditions.

View sources ↗

CHOOSE A STARTING POINT

What do you need to prepare?

Plan for evacuationFind zone lookup, transport, and assistance resources.Review your options →Prepare your householdCalculate water, make a checklist, and save your plan.Build your plan →Understand the seasonsCoastal winter rain, inland heat and year-round earthquake and evacuation preparation.Explore local weather →
All sections ↑My household plan →

01 / UNDERSTAND LOCAL RISKS

San Diego weather by month

Compare coastal temperatures and the winter rainy season. Use these airport averages as background, then check your neighborhood forecast.

San Diego International Airport / Lindbergh Field · NOAA 1991–2020

Monthly averages, not a forecast. Rainfall includes the water equivalent of precipitation. Days reaching 90°F are not heat-index days.

Read all monthly values
MonthHigh °FLow °FRain inchesDays ≥90°F
January66.450.31.980
February66.251.82.20
March6754.51.460.1
April68.857.10.650.2
May69.5600.280.3
June71.762.60.050.1
July75.366.10.080.1
August77.367.50.010.3
September77.266.20.120.9
October74.661.50.50.8
November70.754.80.790.3
December6649.81.670

Most rain falls in cooler months

December through March are much wetter than midsummer in the airport record. Check drainage and flood routes before winter storms.

Coastal averages have limits

August’s average daily high is 77.3°F at Lindbergh Field. That does not describe a hot inland neighborhood or an exceptional heat event.

Earthquakes are not seasonal

Keep furniture, room safety and the household communication plan ready throughout the year, regardless of the weather.

Download the station data ↗

02 / UNDERSTAND LOCAL RISKS

Prepare for a wildfire evacuation before smoke arrives

Canyons and open-space edges make the location of your home and your routes important. Use official hazard and evacuation resources.

Know the surroundings

Review city wildfire resources and the county’s hazard maps. If your property borders open space, use the city’s brush-management guidance rather than clearing protected land on your own.

Plan more than one exit

Choose two possible routes and a destination outside your immediate area. Include pet carriers, mobility needs and who will help a household member leave.

Keep information available

Register for local alerts and save the official emergency map. Charge phones and keep key contacts on paper.

Review city wildfire preparation ↗ · Open official emergency maps ↗

An evacuation warning is time to prepare to leave; an evacuation order means leave as directed. Leave earlier if you need extra travel time or feel unsafe. Do not wait for a photograph or map to confirm danger at your door.

03 / UNDERSTAND LOCAL RISKS

Know your tsunami route near the coast and bays

Tsunami planning depends on where you are, including places you visit—not only your home address.

San Diego skyline reflected in the bay at night
A local view of San Diego. Landscape context, not a photograph of an active emergency.Photo: Rufustelestrat · CC BY 2.5

Use the city’s tsunami page to open the official hazard-area map and marked evacuation routes. Check home, work and familiar waterfront destinations. Walk through the route in advance if it is safe and accessible to do so.

Near the coast, strong or long shaking, a sudden unusual ocean rise or withdrawal, or a loud ocean roar can be natural warnings. After protecting yourself from shaking, move inland or to high ground immediately; do not wait for a phone alert. Follow posted routes and local instructions, and stay away until officials say it is safe.

Find the city’s tsunami maps ↗ · Read NWS tsunami instructions ↗

04 / UNDERSTAND LOCAL RISKS

Prepare for winter flooding and drainage problems

Dry summers do not prevent a damaging winter downpour. Include low streets, creek crossings and building entrances in the plan.

While conditions are dry, ask your property manager about past water entry and drainage maintenance. Keep the portable bag and essential records above low storage areas. Identify a route that avoids flood-prone roads and check current alerts before using it.

Do not enter floodwater on foot or in a vehicle. Road closures and conditions can change faster than a map updates. If officials tell your area to evacuate, follow the current route and destination instructions.

Check emergency maps and current instructions ↗ · Review floodwater safety ↗

05 / UNDERSTAND LOCAL RISKS

Make rooms safer and practice what to do

Earthquake preparation is a year-round task. Start with places where people sleep, sit and work.

Before shaking

Secure tall furniture and heavy objects using suitable hardware and installation instructions. Keep shoes and a light accessible near sleeping areas.

During shaking

Drop, Cover and Hold On. Protect your head and neck, take cover under sturdy furniture when available, and stay away from windows. Review official adaptations for mobility needs.

After shaking

Check for hazards and follow emergency instructions. If you are near the coast, remember that natural tsunami warnings require prompt movement to high ground once shaking allows.

Read earthquake safety instructions ↗

06 / UNDERSTAND LOCAL RISKS

Plan for inland heat and loss of power

Coastal weather can feel different from inland conditions on the same day. Pick a cooling destination for the place where you actually live.

Check the city’s places-to-cool-down page and confirm hours before traveling. Keep a backup destination and a ride. Save SDG&E’s outage center and discuss backup requirements with the provider of any medical equipment.

Use MTS alerts to check trolley, bus and elevator disruptions if transit is part of your plan. A small charging battery is useful for phones but is not an air-conditioning plan.

Find cooling locations ↗ · Open SDG&E’s outage center ↗ · Check MTS alerts ↗

07 / UNDERSTAND LOCAL RISKS

Keep one portable plan for people and pets

Save alert registration, current evacuation maps and two destinations where your household could stay.

Use AlertSanDiego for official incident updates and register your contact details. The city also links to accessible alert options and Genasys Protect. Review the map for the current event; a hazard map is not itself an evacuation order.

Pack a bag you can carry, including essential documents, medication information, chargers and personal supplies. Arrange transport before you need it. Ask about pet access and mobility needs at both planned destinations.

Find city alert and accessible-information options ↗ · Open emergency maps ↗

08 / BUILD YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN

Build your San Diego household plan

Choose your household size, supply duration and housing type. Save a checklist and download local contacts with your plan.

Water bottles, first-aid kit, flashlight, radio and other supplies laid out on a table
Lay out your supplies before using the checklist below. Illustrative supplies, not a complete emergency kit.Photo: Roger Brown · Pexels license
  1. 1Enter household details
  2. 2Review water and tasks
  3. 3Download your plan

STARTING WATER RESERVE

14gallons

2 people × 7 days × 1 gallon per day

For people only; add pet and individual needs.

Your household checklist

0 of 6 complete

Tracks these tasks only, not a safety score. Choices stay in this browser.

Saved only on this device

The seven-day setting is a planning scenario. Start with at least one gallon of water per person per day; increase it for heat, pets and individual needs. Read water-storage guidance ↗

Keep a portable bag separate from your home reserve. Add medication instructions, accessibility needs and meeting places to the downloaded worksheet. The checklist tracks tasks you mark; it does not measure whether your home is safe.

09 / BUILD YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN

A monthly San Diego preparation checklist

Choose a month for three practical tasks. These are suggested reminders, not a forecast or a restriction on when hazards can happen.

    Read the full year’s checklist

    January — Review rain routes

    • Check your building’s known water-entry points.
    • Keep essentials above low storage areas.
    • Save MTS alerts for your regular routes.

    February — Check drainage and documents

    • Request needed drainage maintenance while conditions are safe.
    • Update paper contacts.
    • Review your route around low streets.

    March — Practice earthquake protection

    • Identify cover locations in each room.
    • Review furniture restraints.
    • Check adaptations for mobility needs.

    April — Review coastal destinations

    • Look up tsunami hazard areas for places you visit.
    • Identify marked evacuation routes.
    • Agree on an inland meeting point.

    May — Prepare for warmer inland weather

    • Choose two cooled destinations.
    • Arrange a ride if needed.
    • Check SDG&E account contact details.

    June — Check wildfire preparation

    • Review city brush-management guidance.
    • Pack pet carriers and portable supplies.
    • Save current official evacuation-map links.

    July — Refresh heat and outage supplies

    • Charge phones and lights.
    • Confirm cooling-location hours.
    • Review backup needs for powered equipment.

    August — Practice leaving early

    • Check alternate routes from home.
    • Confirm both destinations accept your household.
    • Update the portable contact list.

    September — Review dry-weather fire plans

    • Keep alerts enabled during wind events.
    • Check the evacuation bag.
    • Confirm a backup driver.

    October — Practice the earthquake plan

    • Rehearse Drop, Cover and Hold On.
    • Check furniture and cabinet hazards.
    • Review coastal evacuation routes.

    November — Prepare for winter rain

    • Check drainage before forecast storms.
    • Keep stored water and lights accessible.
    • Save MTS service alerts.

    December — Update household contacts

    • Review destination addresses.
    • Check water and food storage dates.
    • Download a new paper plan.

    10 / USE THE TOOLS

    Estimate battery runtime for your devices

    Use the power label on each device. This calculator estimates energy use; it does not check electrical compatibility.

    A switched-on flashlight resting on a surface
    Include battery-powered lighting in your outage plan. Use the calculator below for devices you would power from a battery station.Photo: Steve A Johnson · Pexels license
    1. 1Select devices
    2. 2Adjust watts and daily hours
    3. 3Enter battery capacity
    Editable example device loads
    UseDeviceWattsHours/day

    Watts × hours gives daily watt-hours. Battery capacity × usable percentage gives estimated usable energy. Actual runtime also depends on starting surges, inverter limits, battery condition and temperature.

    A small battery may charge phones or lights, but it is not a household heating or cooling plan. Arrange a suitable place to go if your home becomes unsafe. For medical equipment, confirm backup requirements with the equipment provider.

    11 / USE THE TOOLS

    Estimate San Diego solar output by month

    Compare the seasons before relying on a portable panel for backup charging.

    NASA POWER · 2001–2025

    The estimate uses monthly average sunlight on a horizontal surface: panel watts × daily irradiation × the percentage retained after losses. It is an approximate daily energy budget, not guaranteed output during a storm.

    Shade, nearby buildings, panel angle, temperature and charging limits change the result. Check that the panel and battery are compatible. View the underlying NASA grid data ↗

    12 / BUILD YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN

    Set up San Diego emergency alerts

    Use local alerts and a second information source. Test reception and batteries before you need them.

    Sign up for local alerts ↗

    San Diego County · SAME county code006073

    Keep the leading zero.

    NOAA WEATHER RADIO162.400 MHz

    KEC62 · Verify reception where you will use the radio. Radio setup source ↗

    SAME filters county alerts on compatible receivers. A basic weather-band radio may only play broadcasts when switched on. Check the model before relying on automatic warnings; the county code does not identify your evacuation zone.

    13 / BUILD YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN

    Save these San Diego contacts

    Put these links and numbers in your phone and keep a paper copy. Check your utility bill to confirm the correct provider.

    Emergency

    Call 911 for immediate danger.

    14 / UNDERSTAND LOCAL RISKS

    Local events worth planning for

    These examples show how different emergencies affect everyday life. They are not a forecast or an estimate of your address’s risk.

    2024

    January flash flooding

    On January 22, heavy rain caused damaging flooding in the region, including urban neighborhoods. Planning lesson: include low streets and building drainage in a winter plan even after a dry summer. Read the NOAA event record ↗

    15 / BUILD YOUR EMERGENCY PLAN

    Shop this guide

    Supplies selected for San Diego’s local risks and the plans on this page. Start with what you already own.

    These are individual products, not a complete emergency kit. Compare capacity, fit and household needs before buying. Cards show the current store catalog; confirm options and availability on the product page.

    Browse all emergency supplies →

    Reduce falling-furniture hazards before earthquake shaking. Confirm that the straps suit your furniture and wall construction.

    Organize a portable wildfire or coastal evacuation bag you can carry. This backpack is empty; supplies are separate.

    Keep paper contacts and document copies together for an evacuation. The carry bag has no verified fire- or flood-protection rating.

    Keep a rechargeable hands-free light near your bag and shoes for outages or a dark exit.

    Store drinking water for service interruptions. Use the household calculator to work out the total reserve.

    Keep pet bowls with your pet’s water and carrier for an evacuation. Confirm that your destination accepts pets.

    SOURCES AND COVERAGE

    Where the San Diego information comes from

    Independent Local Prepper guide. Sources reviewed November 2026. City, county, airport, and regional data are labeled separately. No address-level safety assessment or live alert feed is provided.

    Browse all sources and their coverage

    Photo: Sandiego skyline at night.JPG by Whoismanu, 11 June 2004, 18:50:57. CC BY-SA 3.0. Display cropped.

    Browse all city guides →