Wildfires, earthquakes, high winds and power outages are all part of living in Southern California.

This month, The Simi Signal will focus on a few simple steps that can make a real difference when something unexpected happens.

Most of us know we should be prepared for an emergency. The challenge is figuring out where to start.

September is National Preparedness Month, and here in Simi Valley preparedness isn't just theoretical. Our location and climate expose us to several emergencies that can happen with little warning.

Among the hazards identified in local emergency planning are wildfires, earthquakes, flooding, severe storms and severe weather. High-wind events can also bring another familiar concern: Southern California Edison may initiate a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) when conditions create an elevated wildfire risk.

That doesn't mean we need to live expecting disaster. It does mean a little preparation can make an uncomfortable or frightening situation much easier to manage.

Simi Valley's Office of Emergency Services breaks preparedness into three straightforward steps:

Make a Plan. Build a Kit. Stay Informed.

Throughout September, we'll tackle each of those in practical, Simi Valley-specific ways.

We'll look at what belongs in a realistic emergency and evacuation kit, including what you need for pets; how to create a simple family communication and evacuation plan; how to prepare for an extended power outage; and what local resources are available before and during an emergency.

But we're starting with perhaps the easiest step of all:

This Week's Preparedness Challenge: Get Connected

If a wildfire is moving toward your neighborhood, roads are being closed or an evacuation warning has been issued, having supplies doesn't help much if you don't know what's happening.

Fortunately, Simi Valley residents have several ways to receive emergency information.

1. VC Alert — Start Here

VC Alert is the most important local alert system to register for.

The City of Simi Valley and Ventura County use VC Alert to send critical emergency messages by text, phone call and email. Alerts can include threats to public safety and instructions residents may need to follow.

Landline numbers may already be included in the system, but cellphone numbers, work phones and email addresses need to be registered. You can also register multiple locations, which can be useful if you want alerts concerning a family member's home or another property.

Sign up for VC Alert

You can also register by calling 805-648-9283.

2. Simi Valley Police Nixle Alerts

The Simi Valley Police Department also uses Nixle to distribute local alerts and advisories.

One of the easiest ways to subscribe is simply to text your ZIP code to 888777. You can also register online.

Register for Nixle alerts

This is worth having in addition to VC Alert because not every public-safety message rises to the level of a countywide emergency notification.

3. MyShake Earthquake Early Warning

Earthquakes present a very different challenge because they arrive without the kind of advance notice we may have with weather or wildfire conditions.

California's free MyShake app can send earthquake early-warning notifications when its system detects significant shaking. Depending on your distance from the earthquake, the warning may provide seconds to tens of seconds to Drop, Cover and Hold On before the strongest shaking reaches you.

Learn about MyShake and California earthquake alerts

Android phones also support earthquake alerts, and California uses Wireless Emergency Alerts for qualifying earthquakes.

4. Southern California Edison Outage & PSPS Alerts

Simi Valley residents have another emergency-related concern that has become increasingly familiar: power outages during high fire-risk weather.

Southern California Edison allows customers to receive notifications about unplanned outages, scheduled maintenance and potential Public Safety Power Shutoffs.

SCE customers can manage outage notifications through their account, while tenants, caregivers and others who aren't the account holder can register for address-specific PSPS alerts.

Set up SCE outage and PSPS alerts

This is particularly worth checking if you haven't updated the phone number or email address associated with your electric account recently.

5. Keep Ventura County's Emergency Site Bookmarked

This one doesn't send an alert, but it belongs on your phone.

During a significant Ventura County emergency, VC Emergency provides incident information and may include evacuation information, road closures, shelter locations and other updates.

Bookmark Ventura County Emergency Information

A Few Useful Backups

Simi Valley's Office of Emergency Services also recommends several additional resources, including the FEMA app and American Red Cross Emergency app, both of which can provide National Weather Service alerts and preparedness information. The Red Cross app can also provide shelter information.

FEMA App information

American Red Cross Emergency App

And don't overlook an old-fashioned backup. During a major local emergency, Simi Valley operates 530 AM to broadcast evacuation information, shelter locations, emergency phone numbers and incident updates.

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Your 10-Minute Assignment

You don't need to buy anything this week.

Take a few minutes and:

✓ Register for VC Alert
✓ Subscribe to SVPD Nixle alerts
✓ Make sure earthquake alerts are enabled on your phone
✓ Check your SCE outage notification information
✓ Bookmark VC Emergency

That's five small things you can do today that could become extremely important later.

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One More Way to Help Simi Valley Prepare

Ventura County is currently updating its 2027 Hazard Mitigation Plan, which helps identify the natural and human-caused hazards facing local communities and guides future efforts to reduce their impact.

Residents are being asked to provide input on the risks they are most concerned about — including issues such as wildfire, earthquakes, flooding and severe weather.

The public input period is currently open through September 15, 2026, making this a timely opportunity for Simi Valley residents to have a voice in how local hazards are evaluated and prioritized.

Learn more about Simi Valley's Hazard Mitigation Planning

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Coming This Month

Over the next several weeks, we'll continue our Ready Simi series with practical guides covering:

Next: Building a realistic Simi Valley go-bag and emergency kit — including pets

Then: Creating a family evacuation and communication plan

Later: Preparing your home for a 24-hour-or-longer power outage

Preparedness doesn't have to mean preparing for every possible disaster. It starts with knowing what could happen here, knowing where you'll get reliable information, and taking a few manageable steps before you need them.