One of the first things to take care of when moving to Palm Springs or starting a new life in the area is the local contact system.

While it's a world where everything can be found through an internet search, knowing the necessary numbers in advance for emergencies is different from looking them up in the moment. Let me summarize the phone system in Palm Springs and the contact numbers for key agencies.

The Palm Springs and Coachella Valley area uses the area code 760. The California Inland Desert region — including Palm Springs, Palm Desert, La Quinta, Indio, Coachella, Desert Hot Springs, Rancho Mirage, Indian Wells, Borrego Springs, Nineteen Palms, and Big Bear Lake — all use the 760 area code. When calling Los Angeles County (213/310/323/818) or San Diego (619/858), you must dial the area code. Even within the same 760 area, using a 10-digit dial (1+760+XXXXXXX or 760+XXXXXXX) is common.

I have organized the contact numbers for key agencies by category. In emergencies, always call 911. For non-emergency police inquiries or reports, contact the Palm Springs Police Department (PSPD) non-emergency line at (760) 323-8116. For non-emergency fire inquiries, call the Palm Springs Fire Department at (760) 323-8183. The city hall main number is (760) 323-8200, and for building permits and zoning inquiries, you can reach (760) 323-8245. The business license department can be contacted at (760) 323-8253.

Public utility contacts are also important. The water and sewer service is provided by Desert Water Agency (DWA) at (760) 323-4971, and their website is dwa.org. Electricity is through Southern California Edison (SCE) customer service at 1-800-655-4555, and gas is provided by SoCalGas at 1-800-427-2200. Trash and recycling collection is handled by Burrtec Waste Industries at (760) 340-2113. Internet and cable services are primarily provided by Spectrum at (833) 267-6094 or AT&T at 1-800-288-2020. For medical-related inquiries, contact Desert Regional Medical Center at (760) 323-6511 or the Eisenhower Health appointment center at (760) 837-8988. For Palm Springs International Airport (PSP) inquiries, call (760) 318-3800.

I'll also note places that Korean residents often need. While there isn't a direct Korean support service in Riverside County, you can connect to Korean interpretation services through the California state 2-1-1 call center (call 211). The Riverside County DMV is not located in Palm Springs, and the nearest DMV is in Palm Desert (73-520 Fred Waring Dr, Palm Desert) at (760) 346-7581. The Social Security Administration Coachella Valley office is located near Palm Springs, and you should first contact the national number 1-800-772-1213. When settling in Palm Springs, calling the city hall main number (760) 323-8200 can help connect you to the appropriate department for most inquiries.