County Upgrades Free, Mobile Emergency-Preparedness App

The county of San Diego on Monday unveiled an improved mobile emergency-preparedness app for Apple and Android devices.    

The updated app will allow users to share disaster plans created with family members and friends, and will send notifications when food, water and other items assembled for a home emergency kit expire.

"The new version has everything you need to prepare for disasters that affect San Diego, like wildfires, and users will find the new sharing capabilities, notifications and other features very compelling and useful," said Supervisor Ron Roberts.

Roberts spearheaded the effort to create the emergency app two years ago.

The county's Office of Emergency Services is offering a free, two-person camping tent donated by Target to early adopters. The tents will go to the first 3,000 people who download the app, fill out their plan, and register their cell phones or email addresses with AlertSanDiego, the County’s mass calling system

The app offers disaster preparedness information, interactive checklists to help create emergency plans and build an emergency supply kit. After a disaster, it provides emergency information, with maps and shelter locations.

The app is available on iTunes and Google Play.