Check to See If You Qualify for Free Safety Services Offered
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No one can guarantee total freedom from crime and danger. But County public safety departments are offering some free services and programs for people living in County service areas, or who meet specific criteria. Find out if you can take advantage of some of these services.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies provide law enforcement services in nine contract cities, 18 Indian reservations and the unincorporated areas in the county. For those living in these communities, the department offers various services through its crime prevention bureau and the Senior Volunteer Patrol.
These include:
Guidance for establishing a Neighborhood Watch in your community as well as free materials including decals.
Home security checks where a crime prevention specialist can meet residents at home to advise them of security weaknesses and suggest improvements.
Vacation check service by the Senior Volunteer Patrol which regularly drive by homes and look for unusual or suspicious activity while the homeowner is away.
The You Are Not Alone program which offers a regular telephone check for elderly, disabled and shut-in residents and weekly brief visit.
The Take Me Home Registry Program, previously called Silver Alert, was created to give law enforcement quick access to critical information about a registered person with disabilities or medical condition in case they get lost or wander away.
San Diego County Fire offers programs to help residents prepare for hazards and stay safe.
The Defensible Space Program is a program that helps homeowners who need to safeguard their homes in the event of a wildfire but can’t due to physical, economic or other barriers. The program, done in cooperation with the Fire Safe Council of San Diego, does have an extended wait list and depends on funding availability and geographic location.
The Residential KnoxBox Program is for residents who live in County Fire service area and certain districts in Deer Springs and Ramona who meet specific criteria. Qualifying residents can receive a free KnoxBox that gives emergency responders secure access to a home in the event the person is unable to answer the door for an emergency call.
Residents who live in the County Fire service area or Deer Springs fire district, with an above or below ground level pool can apply to receive a free pool alarm. The first-come, first-serve program has limited quantities available.
The Office of Emergency Services offers free resources to help people assemble emergency kits and create a plan for what to do before, during and after a disaster or local emergency.
Download a free Personal Disaster Plan template on the OES website in various languages. A plan is also created for people who may need assistance.
An application-version of the disaster plan is also available on the office’s free SD Emergency App as well as ShakeReadySD, early earthquake warning.