How Prepared are You if a Disaster hits?

The next emergency in the Coachella Valley could arrive with little warning, which is why Palm Springs Fire is preparing to offer residents emergency response training beginning in October.

The classes will teach basic disaster response skills at a time when desert residents regularly face extreme heat, powerful sandstorms, wildfires and the potential for major earthquakes. The timing also comes after Valley residents received weather warnings on their phones as a major sandstorm moved through the area.

For some residents, the experience was a reminder that knowing what to do during a disaster can be just as important as receiving the warning itself.

Fred recalled the first time he drove through a haboob, saying he was “completely freaked out” and pulled over on Interstate 10 because he had never experienced anything like it.

Nick compared the experience to a Wisconsin snowstorm, saying that if you have never encountered a haboob, you may not know how quickly conditions can change.

“The haboob is real,” Collins said. “It’s annual. We have them multiple times throughout the year. You’ve got to be ready for it.”

Former news anchor Jim Walker compared the situation to the dense morning fog he experienced growing up in California’s Central Valley. He noted that even when drivers pull over and activate their hazard lights, they still have to worry about other motorists who may not see them.

But disaster preparedness goes beyond knowing what to do during a sandstorm. The contributors were asked whether their own households could survive for three days without power or outside assistance.

Walker jokingly admitted, “Well, heck no,” but quickly added that everyone should be prepared.

Collins said he is confident he could manage, but his first thought when an emergency alert arrives is about his parents and in-laws and whether they might need help.

The discussion also raised the idea of making emergency preparedness part of basic school education. Collins said students could quickly apply disaster-response training and potentially use those skills to save lives.

For Coachella Valley residents, the message is straightforward: Emergency alerts can tell you something is happening. Preparation helps you know what to do next.

Explore: NBCPalmSprings.com, where we are connecting the Valley.