ANTELOPE VALLEY, Calif. - Local officials say it wouldn’t take long for first responders to be overwhelmed - in the event of a disaster on the level of hurricanes and earthquakes we've seen this season.

“We hope that people are a little bit more engaged in making sure that they, their family, their pets and their neighborhoods are prepared in case of some type of disaster," says Kery German, Crime Prevention Specialist for City of Palmdale.

“But there are those people that immediately following a disaster, they’re going to need food and water and batteries and those types of things, and those items aren’t going to be available," says Captain Scott Polgar, Los Angeles County Fire Department.

So the time to act is now – before disaster strikes.

“This fire station that we’re in right now is 12 to 15 calls on an average day. Now this fire station’s jurisdiction is about eight square miles, has about 35,000 people that are working or living in this district.  Can you imagine if they all called 911 at the same time?  There’d be no way for this one fire station to handle the calls," says Polgar.

If a disaster strikes, first responders will be immediately overwhelmed, which means you'll have to be your own disaster.

To do that, you’ll need enough emergency inventory to shelter in place for at least 72 hours after a disaster.  You can buy a ready-made emergency kit, or you can make one.  If you make one, it should include items like canned food, water, first aid, whistle, knife, blanket, poncho, lighting, matches, a change of clothes, and importantly, a radio.

“This is my wind up, battery-operated or solar-operated radio, so you can at least get a little bit of information.  It’s also a flashlight and you can charge your cell phones with it," says German.

While you’re taking steps to safeguard your family, your pets and yourself, first responders and the Antelope Valley Community Emergency Response Team are continually working to safeguard the entire area.  In fact, there are 14 shipping containers like this one located throughout the Valley full of disaster preparedness supplies.  But, they say, stay diligent, and imagine what you’ll need when your electricity goes out for days.

“People need to look inward and say, ‘how much gasoline do I have in my car?  Do I have enough food and water inside of my house?  Do I have enough propane in my barbeque?’" says Polgar.

Officials say a good place for your emergency kit is right here in your vehicle.  You hope you never need it, but if you do, it’ll go a long way toward making sure you are your own first responder.