September is National Preparedness Month, a time to take proactive steps to prepare for emergencies. This year, the San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services is encouraging residents to Prepare Where You Live by understanding the risks that may impact your communities.
For residents of San Bernardino County’s desert communities, preparedness means being ready for conditions that can quickly change. Wildfires, winter storms, landslides, power outages and road closures can disrupt daily life, limit travel or require residents to evacuate with little notice.
A few ways to prepare for desert emergencies:
- Know where to go to stay cool. Identify places in your community where you can get relief from extreme heat, such as libraries, shopping malls or community centers.
- Never drive or walk through floodwaters. Even in desert communities, heavy rain can lead to dangerous flash flooding. Avoid walking, swimming or driving through floodwaters. Remember: Turn around, don’t drown! Just six inches of moving water can knock a person off their feet, and one foot of moving water can sweep a vehicle away.
- Secure loose outdoor items. Bring patio furniture, trash cans, garden tools, children’s toys and other loose items indoors, or secure them so they do not become dangerous projectiles during high winds.
- Prepare for power outages. Take inventory of essential items that rely on electricity and have backup options available. Keep portable chargers or power banks charged, have extra batteries on hand and make sure each household member has access to a flashlight.
- Protect important documents. Keep copies of important documents in a waterproof container. Consider also creating password-protected digital copies as an additional backup.
Download the Ready SB County app and sign up for TENS, San Bernardino County’s emergency notification system, to receive important information before and during an emergency.
Preparing now can make a big difference when conditions change.
Ready Together. Prepare Where You Live.
Visit bit.ly/readytogethersb to learn more about National Preparedness Month.
Follow along throughout September:
- Facebook – Ready San Bernardino County
- LinkedIn – Ready San Bernardino County
- Instagram – ReadySBCounty
- YouTube – ReadySBCounty
- X – ReadySBCounty
Additional County Update News – September 17, 2026
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- Prepared today, ready tomorrow: Aging and Adult Services-Public Guardian strengthens emergency readiness
- County partners with housing authority to expand support for young adults and families
- From military service to a new career: Workforce Development helps veteran build his future
- Recovery Happens in San Bernardino County
- Sound of Recovery concert to bring stories of hope and healing to the stage
- Children’s Network celebrates 40th anniversary conference
- County continues AB 98 truck route outreach, invites public input
- 2026 State of the County to spotlight businesses and celebrate 100th anniversary of Route 66
- Help shape the future of the Big Bear Alpine Zoo
- SBC Through Your Eyes: Oak Glen Preserve
- Submit your photos and videos of the county’s destinations, nature and cityscapes
- San Bernardino County history: Baker
- Things to do in San Bernardino County
- Pet of the Week: Joker