San Diego County Community Needs Assessment on Earthquake Awareness & Preparedness

This community needs assessment report is the result of a collaboration between the City of National City, San Diego State University’s (SDSU) Center for Regional Sustainability (CRS) via the Sage Project, and undergraduate researchers from the SDSU Sociology 407 course: Survey and Experimental Research Methods. The purpose of this collaboration was to collect survey data on earthquake risk perceptions and preparedness among communities in San Diego where the estimated social vulnerability index (SVI) was identified as moderate to high. For this study, students collected a total of 304 useful responses between the dates of November 1 and November 20, 2025. The use of convenience sampling was employed by different student groups to recruit participants from these target communities, including El Cajon, the Downtown area, Lemon Grove, Spring Valley, Chula Vista, Otay Lakes, and National City. Key findings revealed that although 98% of participants had previously experienced an earthquake and nearly all were aware of a fault line in San Diego (even if unsure which one), this awareness alone is not enough to motivate actions that build earthquake-resilient communities. Additionally, data revealed that a quarter of participants in the sample were aware of the MyShake earthquake alert phone application developed by the UC Berkeley Seismology Lab and sponsored by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES). The app includes features such as earthquake preparedness tips, safety information, and a global earthquake map, all designed to keep users informed before, during, and after an earthquake. In addition, this app features a monthly test alert system that could be used to create a proactive communication strategy, allowing residents to internalize the risk posed by the Rose Canyon Fault without requiring them to be part of a destructive earthquake in real life. As highlighted in this community needs assessment, localized risk communication and frequent technology-based engagement–such as that offered by MyShake–are essential to bridging the gap between recognizing risks and fostering action regarding seismic resilience.