Helpful Tips to Prepare for an Emergency Event

North County Fire Protection District hosted the biannual Wildfire Symposium in May 2025, to provide community members with information on what to do before, during and after an emergency. If you missed the symposium, below are helpful tips to prepare your home and loved ones for a wildfire event.

Prepare Your Home 

The key to a successful emergency plan is preparation.

•  Assemble an emergency kit with batteries, flashlights,first aid kit, map, medication, non-perishable food, pet food and water. Make sure the kit is regularly updated, and all household members know its location.

•  Design your emergency plan with an evacuation meeting place and know your evacuation route.

•  Create defensible space by clearing brush, trim trees, and debris within 50 feet of your home. Remove all combustible items at least five feet from your home.
Explore more evacuation resources on the Ready.gov website.

Emergency Notifications

A variety of emergency notifications are available for community members to receive the most up to date information.

•  Alert San Diego, Genasys Protect and Watch Duty are free mobile phone apps with notifications of fires, evacuation maps and power outages.

•  San Diego Sheriffs Office Fallbrook station posts regularly to notify of emergency events, including gas and water leaks. Follow their X formerly Twitter account @SDSOFallbrook

•  Update your contact information with Rainbow Water to receive notification on outages by completing the online form here.

Pet & Animal Evacuation

Keep your pets safe by following these tips from the San Diego Humane Society.

•  Ensure your pet has a collar with your name and contact number.

•  Appoint a neighbor to evacuate pets and select a meet location for when you are away from home. 

•  Practice loading and unloading pets in a crate or vehicle, and large animals in a trailer. 
Read more about animal evacuation preparation on the San Diego Humane Society website.