Aryana Noroozi
The San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services has launched the new and improved Ready SB County App, a free mobile tool designed to help residents stay informed and take action before, during, and after a disaster.
The easy-to-use app offers real-time alerts, interactive hazard maps, and personalized preparedness tools to help individuals, families, and communities plan ahead. It also includes evacuation zone maps, safety check-ins with family and friends, and quick access to emergency resources—all accessible from your phone whether you’re at home, work, or on the go.
“Ready San Bernardino centralizes real-time information from county emergency agencies, helping residents stay informed during disasters,” said Stacy Duncan, California Department of Social Services Senior Emergency Services Coordinator. “The ability to have a connection between the official messaging provided by the County and social media information provides for real time messaging that can provide assistance, direction and critical information sharing during an incident.”
County officials say the updated app is part of an ongoing effort to strengthen local emergency response and public awareness. By putting essential safety information at residents’ fingertips, the app aims to make preparation more convenient and effective.
Duncan explained that the preparedness tools are readily available in the “Safety Tool Box” area of the app, which give County residents information about what to do to be prepared for a disaster, what essential items they should keep on hand, as well as how to communicate during a disaster.
The app also contains informational sections which acquaint residents with emergency management (EM) terminology. Duncan emphasized the positive effect this can have on public comprehension of EM terminology and processes used during an event, and the impact this can make on evacuation implementation.
A recent study by the RAND Corporation found that communication gaps and uneven access to emergency information remain barriers to community resilience. The report recommends expanding multilingual outreach and leveraging technology to reach residents more effectively – efforts the new Ready SB County app aims to address.
County officials also say the app’s update is part of an ongoing push to strengthen local emergency response and public awareness. By making essential safety information more accessible, at residents’ fingertips, the READY SB County App aims to make preparedness more accessible and effective.The Ready SB County App is now available for download in the App Store and Google Play.