Polygons represent San Diego County-wide evacuation zone boundaries. Developed and approved in close collaboration between regional public safety agencies, evacuation zones are intended to help public safety agencies more effectively plan, communicate, and execute mass evacuation notification in the event of an emergency incident. Evacuation zones will replace the use of Public Safety Grids and Sub-grids during the 2024 calendar year.

Pre-established evacuation zone boundaries help fire, law, and emergency service agencies prepare for, streamline, and reduce confusion around the evacuation process so that roads are clear for those who need to evacuate quickly. By evacuating the most at-risk Zones first, emergency personnel are able to manage the traffic flow and more easily prevent the traffic jams that occur when an entire town or city tries to evacuate all at the same time. It also provides a common reference system for all first responders and the community.