The Office of Emergency Management and Resilience supports the Carlsbad Fire Department's overall mission by coordinating emergency preparedness planning and training for city staff and the Carlsbad community.

A focus on cross-department and multi-agency planning for large-scale incidents distinguishes the Office of Emergency Management and Resilience from day- to-day emergency response planning performed by other Fire Department Bureaus and the Carlsbad Police Department. 

The Office of Emergency Management and Resilience maintains the capability to manage large-scale incident response actions through the Emergency Operations Center. The bureau maintains a close relationship with the San Diego County Unified Disaster Council and County Office of Emergency Services to maximize mutual aid support to city disaster recovery efforts. 

The Office of Emergency Management and Resilience trains city personnel and provides resources to establish shelters at city facilities should the need arise. It also manages the City of Carlsbad Community Emergency Response Team.

Stay informed during emergencies

In 2024, police, fire and emergency management leaders across the region moved to the Genasys System — a new tool that makes emergency evacuation instructions more precise and efficient.

With Genasys, first responders can create evacuation zones using detailed geographic boundaries and send targeted notifications directly to people in those zones. Once the danger has passed, the system also makes it faster and easier for residents to return home.

Previously, evacuations were planned using a grid system. Now, Carlsbad police and fire officials use customized zones based on their knowledge of the community and past emergencies, such as the 2014 Poinsettia Fire.

• Genasys Protect is the new technology first responders use to plan, manage and communicate evacuations. Residents can download the Genasys Protect app or visit their website to look up their zone, subscribe for real-time evacuation alerts and track the status of specific neighborhoods. The app also allows you to monitor zones outside Carlsbad, such as where family members live or where you work.

• AlertSanDiego is still the official countywide notification system. Residents should register to ensure they receive critical alerts through landlines, cellphones, email and text. This system serves as the primary database for contact information during regional emergencies.

Additional resources 

• Emergency preparedness guide
• Be ember aware
• Protect your home from wildfires
• Evacuation notifications via Genasys Protect

• Wildfire Mitigation and Defensible Space