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Emergency numbers, alerts & preparedness

Southern California has earthquakes, wildfires and heat waves. Here are the numbers to save and the alerts to sign up for in your first week — each with the official page behind it.

Curated by Simir Shah

Checked September 20, 2026 against the official pages linked under each point. Rules and fees change — open the source before you act. Some county pages block automated checks; where we couldn't confirm a detail we've said to confirm it on the county page.

Numbers to save

  • 988 is the free, confidential national mental-health and crisis line. Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org, 24/7. Text and chat are available in Spanish.Source: 988 Lifeline →
  • Poison Help: 1-800-222-1222, 24/7, free. There is also a web tool at PoisonHelp.org.Source: Poison Centers →
  • 211 connects you to local help. In Los Angeles County dial 2-1-1 or (800) 339-6993 (24/7, many languages, TTY). In Orange County dial 2-1-1 or (888) 600-4357 (24/7, 200+ languages), or text your ZIP code to 898-211. In San Diego County dial 2-1-1.Source: 211 LA →
  • For non-emergencies, look up your city's police or sheriff station's own non-emergency line rather than using 911 — the numbers differ by agency, so there's no single county number to save.Source: LASD station directory →

911 and texting 911

  • The LA County Sheriff's page says Text 9-1-1 is available to LA County residents. It is for life-threatening situations where calling is impossible or unsafe, and for people with hearing or speech impairments. “Call if you can. Text if you can't.”Source: LASD: Text 9-1-1 →
  • Orange County's law enforcement and fire dispatch centers launched Text-to-911 in February 2019 for people who can't make a voice call.Source: OC Sheriff: Text-to-911 →

Alerts to sign up for

  • Wireless Emergency Alerts are free, need no sign-up and go to WEA-capable phones in a targeted area with a distinctive sound. Some phones require you to enable them in settings.Source: Ready.gov: alerts →
  • Los Angeles County: register for Alert LA County (text, email, phone). City of Los Angeles residents also have Notify LA.Source: Ready LA County: notifications →
  • Orange County: AlertOC sends voice, text, email and TTY alerts; sign up through ReadyOC.Source: ReadyOC: alerts →
  • San Diego County: AlertSanDiego calls, texts and emails residents, but cell, VoIP and email contacts only receive alerts if you register. The county also promotes the free SD Emergency app.Source: AlertSanDiego →
  • MyShake is California's earthquake early-warning app, run by the Berkeley Seismology Lab with Cal OES.Source: MyShake →

Earthquakes

  • Drop where you are, Cover your head and neck (under sturdy furniture if nearby) and Hold On until the shaking stops. Indoors, stay in and avoid doorways; outdoors, move to an open area away from buildings, trees and power lines.Source: Ready.gov: earthquakes →
  • The Earthquake Country Alliance explains the Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety and Drop, Cover and Hold On. The Great ShakeOut is October 15, 2026.Source: Earthquake Country Alliance →

Wildfire and air quality

  • Los Angeles County tells residents to check evacuation status at Genasys Protect (protect.genasys.com) by entering an address or sharing location. San Diego County has also adopted Genasys Protect for zones — confirm on the county's evacuation page.Source: LA County: emergency →
  • Orange County's sheriff pages let you look up your evacuation zone on a public map and explain the Warning, Order and Shelter-in-Place alert levels.Source: OC evacuation zone map →
  • AirNow.gov shows the Air Quality Index with forecasts and a Fire and Smoke Map at fire.airnow.gov.Source: AirNow →

Extreme heat

  • LA County publishes a cooling-center map and says to call 211 LA (24/7) to find one. It advises staying indoors 10am–3pm, drinking plenty of water and watching children under 4 and older adults.Source: Ready LA County: heat →
  • Orange County lists cooling centers with addresses and hours in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Korean and Chinese.Source: OC cooling centers →
  • Never leave a person or pet in a closed car on a warm day. Heat stroke (body temperature over 103°F, hot dry skin, confusion) needs an immediate 911 call.Source: Ready.gov: heat →

A family kit and plan

  • Ready.gov's basic kit: water (a gallon per person per day for several days), non-perishable food, a battery or hand-crank radio, flashlight, first-aid kit, batteries, whistle, dust mask, sanitation supplies, local maps and a phone with chargers and a backup battery. For kids it adds formula, bottles, diapers and wipes, plus books, games or puzzles. Keep copies of insurance, ID and bank records saved electronically or in a waterproof container.Source: Ready.gov: build a kit →
  • The four-step family plan: talk about alerts, shelter, evacuation routes and communication; customize for ages, medical needs and pets; write it down; then practice. Agree on meeting places because families may be separated.Source: Ready.gov: make a plan →

Keep going

Frequently asked questions

Can I text 911 in Southern California?

Los Angeles and Orange counties both run text-to-911, intended for people who can't safely or physically make a voice call, including deaf and hard-of-hearing callers. Their motto is “Call if you can. Text if you can't.” Availability can vary by area, so a voice call remains the safest default.

Do I need to sign up for emergency alerts?

Wireless Emergency Alerts reach WEA-capable phones automatically in a targeted area with no sign-up. County systems (Alert LA County, AlertOC, AlertSanDiego) send extra calls, texts and emails, but cell phone and email contacts only receive them if you register.

When is the Great ShakeOut?

The Great ShakeOut earthquake drill is October 15, 2026, and you can register a drill for any other day too. Practice Drop, Cover and Hold On with your kids.

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