Disaster Preparedness - Are You Ready?

3/17/2014

Disaster Preparedness - Are You Ready?



People were talking about the recent "Shamrock Shake," which is a catchy name for the St. Patrick's Day earthquake. And the truth is that disasters can affect many people and a wide area such as an earthquake, or can affect less people and a smaller area such as a severe windstorm that knocks down thousands of power lines, blocking streets and making it difficult for repair crews to restore power for many days or over a week.



Only a small percentage of people were affected yesterday but if it's you, it's 100%.



Instead of ignoring these facts and hoping for the best, take action now to help yourself and the people you love.



Would you be ready if there were an emergency? Here are some simple reminders:



A. ** DROP, COVER and HOLD:

Why is it important to do a Drop, Cover, and Hold On drill? To react quickly you must practice often. You may only have seconds to protect yourself in an earthquake, before strong shaking knocks you down--or drops something on you. Practicing helps you be ready to respond.

If you are inside a building, move no more than a few steps, then Drop, Cover and Hold On:

◦DROP to the ground (before the earthquake drops you!),

◦Take COVER by getting under a sturdy desk or table, and

◦HOLD ON to it until the shaking stops.

Stay indoors till the shaking stops and you are sure it is safe to exit. In most buildings you are safer if you stay where you are until the shaking stops.

If you are outdoors when the shaking starts, you should find a clear spot away from buildings, trees, streetlights, and power lines, then Drop, Cover and Hold On. Stay there until the shaking stops.

If you are driving, pull over to a clear location, stop and stay there with your seatbelt fastened until the shaking stops. Once the shaking stops, proceed with caution and avoid bridges or ramps that might have been damaged.

Ground shaking during an earthquake is seldom the cause of injury. Most earthquake-related injuries and deaths are caused by collapsing walls and roofs, flying glass and falling objects. It is extremely important for a person to move as little as possible to reach the place of safety he or she has identified because most injuries occur when people try to move more than a short distance during the shaking.

Look around you now, before an earthquake. Identify safe places such as under a sturdy piece of furniture or against an interior wall in your home, office or school so that when the shaking starts you can respond quickly. An immediate response to move to the safe place can save lives. And that safe place should be within a few steps to avoid injury from flying debris.

B. **BE PREPARED

Be prepared:



Assemble an emergency supply kit,

Make your emergency plans,

Stay informed and get involved in helping your family, your business, and your community be ready for emergencies.



Be prepared for when - not if - the next emergency occurs. How prepared are you? Preparedness is a responsibility we all share. Let's all do our part. Top priorities are shelter, food, water, and power, but there is a lot more to it.



1. Ready, Set, Go! Los Angeles County Fire Department

http://www.fire.lacounty.gov/SafetyPreparedness/ReadySetGo/home.asp

2. Safety Preparedness Los Angeles County Fire Department

http://fire.lacounty.gov/safetypreparedness/SafetyPreparedness.asp



3. Learn what to do BEFORE an earthquake, DURING an earthquake, and AFTER an earthquake - Los Angeles County Fire Dept.

http://fire.lacounty.gov/safetypreparedness/safetyprepearthquake.asp



4. Emergency Survival Guide - County of Los Angeles

http://lacoa.org/pdf/emergencysurvivalguide-lowres.pdf

5. Citizens Guide to County Services - Los Angeles County

http://www.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/lac/directory/

http://ridley-thomas.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Citizens-Guide-to-County-Services.pdf



6. LA-ESP: At the Los Angeles County Emergency Survival Program's website, you will find a great selection of useful, lifesaving materials and publications for download to share with your family, community, friends, co-workers and children.

http://www.espfocus.org/

(a direct link to publications)

http://www.espfocus.org/esg.htm



7. Seven Steps to Earthquake Safety

https://local.nixle.com/alert/4868470/



8. Federal Emergency Management Agency

http://www.ready.gov/make-a-plan

http://www.fema.gov/



9. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

http://www.cdc.gov/Features/BeReady/

10. Ten Ways YOU Can Be Disaster Prepared:



California Emergency Management Agency

http://www.calema.ca.gov/NewsandMedia/Pages/Preparedness-Month.aspx



11. Totally Unprepared: Admitting You Have a Problem is the First Step:

http://www.totallyunprepared.com/

http://nixle.com/alert/4920475/

C. ** COMMUNICATIONS:

(If you don't have a generator, be sure to get a portable cell phone or laptop charger).



Captain Gary Honings

West Hollywood Sheriff's Station

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

780 N San Vicente Boulevard

West Hollywood, CA 90069

(310) 855-8850



Website: http://www.WestHollywood.lasd.org

Website: www.WeHoSheriff.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WestHollywoodSheriffsStation

Twitter: https://twitter.com/WHDLASD



LASD Text & Email (Register at http://www.Nixle.com :

http://local.nixle.com/lasd---west-hollywood-station-los-angeles-county-sheriff/



West Hollywood Sheriff's Station polices the City of West Hollywood and the unincorporated communities of Franklin Canyon, Universal City (which includes Universal Theme Park, Studios, and Citywalk), and the Federal Enclave in West Los Angeles.



Partner to prevent or report crime by contacting the West Hollywood station. Or, if you wish to remain anonymous, call "LA Crime Stoppers" by dialing 800-222-TIPS (8477), texting the letters TIPLA plus your tip to CRIMES (274637), or using the website http://lacrimestoppers.org



John Scott, Sheriff

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department



To receive more detailed, up-to-date information directly from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department (LASD) via e-mail, register for "Nixle" alerts at www.Nixle.com or more directly at https://local.nixle.com/register/ and register for "LASD Headquarters Newsroom (SHB), Los Angeles County Sheriff" and your local LASD station area. Or, text your zip code to 888777 to receive text alerts only. Standard text messaging rates may apply depending on your calling plan.

Contact Information: Sgt. Klaus - 310.855.8850,