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    How to Prepare for Less Common Emergencies

    California is known for wildfires, earthquakes, and floods, but other emergencies can also affect your health, safety, and daily life. Learning about these hazards and taking a few simple steps now can help you respond with confidence if they happen.

    Once you've prepared for common emergencies, consider taking additional steps for hazards that may affect your community:

    • Extreme Heat
    • Power Shut-Offs
    • Landslides and Mudslides
    • Tsunamis

    Not every hazard affects every community. Learn about the risks where you live so you can focus your preparations on the emergencies most likely to affect you.

    Extreme Heat

    Heat waves are becoming more frequent and longer lasting in California. Older adults, young children, and people with chronic health conditions are more likely to have heat-related illness.

    What you can do:

    • Stay informed – Check local weather forecasts and check CalHeatScore to learn when heat risk is elevated in your area.
    • Find places to cool down – Locate local cooling centers and other air-conditioned public spaces before you need them.
    • Stay cool and hydrated – Wear lightweight, light-colored clothing and drink water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty.
    • Check on others – Reach out to older adults, neighbors, and people living alone during periods of extreme heat.

    Power Shut-Offs

    Utility companies may temporarily turn off power to prevent wildfires during high-risk weather, or outages may happen unexpectedly.

    What you can do:

    • Sign up for alerts – Sign up for your utility company’s power shut-off notifications and local emergency alerts.
    • Build a power outage kit – Include flashlights, extra batteries, a battery-powered radio, backup phone chargers, and supplies to keep medication cool if needed.
    • Plan for medical equipment – If you rely on medical devices, talk with your healthcare provider about backup power options and ask your utility company about its Medical Baseline Program.
    • Protect food and water – Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible to keep food cold. Note: If you receive CalFresh benefits, you can request replacement CalFresh food benefits if your food spoils during a power outage.

    Landslides and Mudslides

    Landslides happen when rock, earth, or debris moves down a slope. They often follow heavy rain, wildfires, or earthquakes.

    What you can do:

    • Know if you’re in a higher risk area – Steep slopes, canyon edges, and recent burn areas are more likely to have slides.
    • Watch for warning signs – Cracks in the ground, leaning trees or fences, and new water seepage can signal danger.
    • Plan more than one evacuation route – Roads may become blocked during a landslide.
    • Help reduce water buildup – Keep gutters and drains clear and direct water away from your home’s foundation.

    Tsunamis

    Tsunamis are powerful ocean waves that can reach the California coast with little warning after an underwater earthquake or other major event.

    What you can do:

    • Learn if you’re in a tsunami evacuation zone – Check California Geological Survey tsunami hazard maps if you live, work, or visit coastal areas.
    • Plan your evacuation route – Know Your Zone to identify safe spots at least 100 feet above sea level or one mile inland.
    • Leave immediately if you notice warning signs – If you feel a strong earthquake near the coast, hear a loud roar from the ocean, or see the water suddenly pull back from shore, move to higher ground right away.
    • Wait for the all-clear – Tsunami waves can continue for hours. Return only when officials say it’s safe.

    Resources to Help You Prepare

    California offers free resources to help you prepare before an emergency.

    You don't need to prepare for every possible emergency all at once. Start with the hazards most likely to affect your community and build your emergency plan one step at a time.