"It's important to remember that when disasters strike," said Sanders, "it's usually without warning. During the first 72 hours of a disaster there simply aren't enough resources and emergency personnel available to be mobilized to take care of a city the size and population of San Diego. There are a limited numbers of first responders, and there are limits to what they can do. If you take the time to prepare your home, your car, your workplace and your children's school for the first 72 hours of a disaster, you'll have taken the single most important step to assure your health, well-being, and in some cases, your survival. When unexpected emergencies occur, whether they are naturally occurring or man-made, our greatest individual defense is preparedness."
The mayor listed several things the public could do to prepare, including getting an emergency supply kit, making an emergency plan, and identifying preparedness and response resources within the community
The City of San Diego Department of Homeland Security offers a Web site that contains disaster preparedness information.
