Be Prepared for Calling 9-1-1
SMART911
Kern County's emergency dispatch center uses Smart911, a free internet service where you can input information of who lives in your home and any special needs they may have. This information is only pulled up when you call 9-1-1 and is forwarded to first responders dispatched to your home. You can also sign up to receive alerts automatically of weather, traffic, or other emergencies in your area. You may set up a personal account for free at Smart911.com.
Reduce Personal Risk or Injury
Create a Plan
Every household should have a disaster plan! Meet with your family members and discuss why you need to prepare for a disaster. Discuss and explain the dangers of the various hazards that may impact your home or your community.
Build an Emergency Kit
An emergency kit is assembled so that in case of an emergency you are prepared ahead of time. It is possible that you will need to survive on your own after an emergency and this kit should have all the basic yet essential items you will need for at least 72 hours. Your kit should contain food and water, items in case there is a power shortage, and other items such as personal hygiene supplies and copies of important documents.
Resources for Plans and Kits
These resources provide families guidance in developing plans to prepare their homes and loved ones for natural disasters and other emergencies.
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- Centers for Disease Control: CDC publishes an All-Hazards Preparedness Guide.
- Pacific Gas & Electricity Safety Action Center: Tips and Resources for emergency planning at home
- American Red Cross: Ways to prepare for a home fire, including prevention and escape
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Perform Mitigation Around Your Home
Disaster mitigation refers to steps you can take now to lessen the impact of a disaster, should one occur. An example of this is use of straps and screws to secure a tall bookshelf to the wall so it cannot fall on someone during an earthquake.
Mitigation around your home can better prepare you and your family for an unexpected emergency or disaster incident, and help you recover more quickly. Here are some resources to get you started.
Assess Your Own Risk
Using Cal OES MyHazards, type in your address to asses your risk to natural hazards including earthquakes, flood, fire and tsunami. Learn what you should do to reduce injuries, protect your life and those of others, and reduce damage to your home and property.
Visit Ready.gov to learn about different hazards and how you can prepare your home or business for these events.
Kern County Fire Department provides Ready Kern, a web-based service to sign up for local emergency alerts via text message, email, and phone call.