Ask and you shall receive...just in

4/24/2014

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PRESS RELEASE #CM: 042414

Subject :	City of Long Beach Selected as Beta Site to Help Test Earthquake Early Warning System (EEWS)
Contact :	Reginald Harrison, Deputy City Manager    562.570.9250     Reginald.Harrison@longbeach.gov

The City of Long Beach has been selected by the California Institute of Technology (CalTech) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) to serve as a beta site for California Integrated Seismic Network (CISN) Earthquake Early Warning System (EEWS).  The EEWS uses existing seismic networks to detect moderate to large earthquakes very rapidly so that a warning can be sent before destructive seismic waves arrive to locations outside the epicenter. Once fully developed, these warnings could allow people time to take some protective action and could also trigger automatic responses to safeguard critical infrastructure. "We are always looking for ways to better prepare for a disaster, and even a few seconds of warning before the force of an earthquake reaches us can save lives and protect property," Mayor Bob Foster said. What this could mean for City operations, residents and businesses in Long Beach in the future, is that certain preventative actions might be able to occur with a few second of warning, such as: Allow people to drop, cover and hold-on and grant businesses time to shut down and move workers to safe locations;  Give medical professionals time to stop delicate procedures;  Protect travelers by providing time for trains to slow or stop, for elevator doors to open, for bridge traffic to clear, for slowing or stopping traffic, and even stopping landings and take-offs at airports; and  Enable emergency responders to prepare by opening fire station doors and starting generators. “The earthquake early warning system provides the City with another tool, in addition to CERT classes to prepare residents and all-hazards training to prepare staff, in the event of a disaster or major emergency,” said Deputy City Manager Reginald Harrison.  “Once fully developed, this technology could literally save lives.” As a beta site, certain City of Long Beach departments will test the system and provide feedback, so that the developers can further refine their algorithms and software to ensure that the system integrates with real work delivery mechanisms, procedures and product benefits. This testing will be conducted at no cost to the City. USGS currently issues rapid, automatic earthquake information, which is available to the general public via the Internet, email, text messages, and social media.  You can sign up for these messages on their website at http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes.  More information on the EEWS can be found at the CISN website at http://www.cisn.org/eew/. As the City continues to enhance its emergency response training, residents are strongly advised to prepare to be self-sufficient for at least five days in the event of a large-scale incident.  Create an emergency plan for your home and family, put together an emergency supply kit (food, water, tools, etc,) and make sure all of your family members know how to contact one another.  Further, all residents are encouraged to sign up for Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training.  The Long Beach Fire Department conducts this free program to train the public how to become self-sufficient during major disasters. More information is available at http://bit.ly/BePreparedLongBeach and www.longbeach.gov/fire/cert.

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Mexico has invested in an early warning system -- so should California

Mexico here we come... (Photo credit: Mexicanwave)

See the link below and watch the video which shows that Mexico had an early warning alert system for earthquakes. California needs one as well.

http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-mexico-city-gets-early-quake-20140418,0,7987331.story#axzz2zNaNybTq

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Putting Politics Aside -- We Need to Ask Is Long Beach Ready?

LONG BEACH RESIDENTS:

Since coming to City Council in 2006, I have spent considerable time on the issue of getting residents ready to survive a major earthquake or tsunami. My staff and I have gone through CERT -- Community Emergency Response Team training.( http://longbeach.gov/fire/cert/) I have held numerous community workshops with disaster preparedness experts to bring people together to get ready. http://www.presstelegram.com/technology/20121009/long-beach-councilwoman-gerrie-schipske-to-host-emergency-preparedness-rountable 

The recent (and continuing) swarm of earthquakeshttp://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-0339-socal-quake-20140329,0,2648814.story  and the workshop held last week at the Aquarium http://www.presstelegram.com/general-news/20140322/long-beach-aquarium-of-the-pacific-to-host-tsunami-preparedness-event  about preparing Long Beach for a tsunami, should make all of us stop and think -- is Long Beach ready? Do our residents know where to go in case of a major disaster? Do we know what streets to avoid if evacuating? Do we have tsunami warning signs posted? Do our public facilities have back up power and supplies, including drinkable water?

It is important that right now the current Mayor and the City Council move as quickly as possible to pull together resources and make sure every neighborhood in our City is prepared.

We all know that there is an election coming, but earthquakes and disasters have their own timetable as you will see in the video below prepared by the Great California Shakeout -- an effort to get California ready for an earthquake.

Please contact Mayor Foster and your member of the City Council and ask if Long Beach is ready and how can we get ready as a City.

Preparedness Now, The Great California Shakeout

 I am including a link for you to check the specific natural disaster hazard in your neighborhood: http://myhazards.calema.ca.gov/  

Please also check http://www.readyla.org/ and find out what you need to do to prepare. 

Together, we can do this!

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Worst Case Scenario in Long Beach

Our neighbour's front yard fountain = result of La Habra 2014 earthquake. #NewBellehurst @BuenaParkCA @LaHabraCA #earthquake #5.1 #terremoto #temblor #magnitude #2014 (Photo credit: dj venus)

Take a moment and view this video which lays out what is expected when the "big one" (major earthquake in Southern California) comes to our area. The recent swarm of earthquakes in our area should be a wake up call.

Be prepared. Be ready. Check out www.readyla.org for tips.

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Quake in LA Should Make Us Think About Getting Ready

The Great Los Angeles Earthquake (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The 4.4 earthquake that hit Los Angeles yesterday should be a reminder that the big one is coming and it is important for Long Beach residents to get ready to survive.

Experts estimate that a 7.0 or large magnitude earthquake would bring widespread devastation in Southern California.

As you know, I have sponsored several community workshops on how to get ready. You need to get your home equipped with supplies and water that will last at least seven days.

Check out www.ready.gov to find out what what you need to get together to get prepared.

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Good Ideas for Seniors -- Get Ready

We all know the value of preparation, whether for an important meeting, a big game, hosting a party, insurance needs – and especially for emergency situations. By evaluating the state of your health, your current needs and what you might require in the event of a disaster, you can be ready for almost anything. Here are some things to consider: Identify the resources you use daily and what you might do if they become limited or unavailable. Make sure that you have an adequate supply of all your medications, to last you for a short period when refills may not be available. Prepare an emergency supply kit (review our section “Stocking Your Supply Kit”) Know the safest places in your home for each type of emergency and learn the best escape routes as well. Plan in advance for a temporary place to stay, in case you are forced to evacuate. If you own a pet, consider where that pet may stay if it is not allowed to accompany you to a shelter or to someone’s home where you will be a guest. Know where all of your medical, insurance and other important documents are located, and make sure they can be accessed quickly. If you have a communication disability, be sure that your emergency information explains the best way to communicate with you.

Our lives are enriched by good and loyal friends. This is especially clear during an emergency crisis. So create a support network of friends who can provide assistance for you, should you need it. Share every element of your disaster plan with your support network. Arrange for members of your support network to immediately check on you, should a disaster occur. Provide an extra house key to a member of your network. Provide copies of your important emergency documents, as well as a health insurance card. Let your support network members know where any emergency supplies are stored. Agree to a specific communication system for contacting one another. Let your support network members know when you are going out of town, and they should do the same for you. Practice your emergency plan together in a show of mutual support.

Hopefully, you will not have to leave your home in the event of a disaster. But even if you are instructed to stay at home, there are certain items you should have and precautions you should take. Keep an adequate water supply of at least one gallon per day. Water should be stored in unbreakable containers. Store non-perishable foods that are nutritious, easy to carry and ready to eat. Keep a manual can opener in one of your drawers. Have non-perishable food available for any pets that live with you. Make sure that you have a working flashlight, with backup batteries. Keep your cell phone charged so that you can use it if your land line becomes temporarily disconnected. Store a first aid kit in your home.

One of the most terrifying experiences is to be trapped by a fire. No matter which way you turn, you sense that there is no way out. But don’t panic…all is not lost, especially if you remember these few words of advice. Drop down to the floor and crawl because the air there is cleaner and less toxic. Most fatalities in a fire occur from smoke inhalation. Feel all doors before you open them; if a door is hot to your touch, look for an alternate way out. If your clothes catch on fire, drop to the floor and roll over and over to suffocate the flames. Do not stay around to “fight” the fire; call the fire department instead from a neighbor’s house or from your outdoor patio. If you are trapped in your house, move next to a window; try to signal for help. Never return to a burning building.

We all love the familiarity of home, where we can enjoy our certain routines and little pleasures. But there are times when it makes sense to leave home, at least for a little while. In fact, it could be a matter of life or death. Some of the more common indicators for evacuation are these: Your area is without electrical power for a prolonged period. Flood waters are rising. A chemical emergency is affecting your area. Your home has been seriously damaged. Emergency personnel instruct you to evacuate.

Many seniors are strong, healthy and capable of taking care of themselves. Others, however, may be ill or disabled, in need of assistance when an emergency situation occurs. If you are helping a senior during a disaster situation, keep these points in mind: Be calm and soothing, especially in situations where the elderly person may have become confused or disoriented by the disaster. Offer a comforting tone, as many elderly individuals are very hesitant to leave their homes, even when “riding out” the disaster is dangerous. Remember to ask the person you are helping whether they have any pets that need assistance too. Make sure that the senior you are assisting has all of his/her medications so those can be moved to safety as well. Be patient; keep in mind that elderly people move more slowly and stop occasionally.

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ASPCA Has Pet Safety Pack

For those of you who are excited about the groundbreaking of the east side dog park in El Dorado Regional Park, it is important to remember that we need to get prepared in the event of the next earthquake

ASPCA has a Pet Safety Pack (https://www.aspca.org/form/free-pet-safety-pack?ms=wb_rig_petcaresection-generalsmall-201307&initialms=wb_rig_petcaresection-generalsmall-201307) that you should go on line and get. It includes stickers for your window to let first responders know there is a pet inside your home. The safety pack also includes an ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center magnet.

ASPCA has a number of great suggestions of how to get prepared. Check out their special website on this issue: http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/disaster-preparedness

The Red Cross also has a printable check list for pet owners. Check here for the list: http://www.redcross.org/prepare/disaster/pet-safety

FEMA has produced an excellent brochure that you can download by clicking: http://www.ready.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/pets_brochure.pdf

Get prepared Long Beach!

Get Ready Business

English: Pass Christian, Miss., April 6, 2006 - Disaster preparedness publications in several languages are available through the FEMA Mitigation Division to show Gulf Coast residents how to minimize damage from hurricanes and other disasters. FEMA Mitigation reaches out to all population groups to encourage pre-disaster planning. George Armstrong/FEMA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Preparedness Planning for Your Business

Businesses can do much to prepare for the impact of the many hazards they face in today’s world including natural hazards like floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and widespread serious illness such as the H1N1 flu viruspandemic. Human-caused hazards include accidents, acts of violence by people and acts of terrorism. Examples of technology-related hazards are the failure or malfunction of systems, equipment or software.

Ready Business will assist businesses in developing a preparedness program by providing tools to create a plan that addresses the impact of many hazards. This website and its tools utilize an “all hazards approach” and follows the program elements within National Fire Protection Association 1600, Standard on Disaster/Emergency Management and Business Continuity Programs. NFPA 1600 is an American National Standard and has been adopted by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

The five steps in developing a preparedness program are:

• Program Management
  • Organize, develop and administer your preparedness program
  • Identify regulations that establish minimum requirements for your program
• Planning
  • Gather information about hazards and assess risks
  • Conduct a business impact analysis (BIA)
  • Examine ways to prevent hazards and reduce risks
• Implementation
  Write a preparedness plan addressing:
  • Resource management
  • Emergency response
  • Crisis communications
  • Business continuity
  • Information technology
  • Employee assistance
  • Incident management
  • Training
• Testing and Exercises
  • Test and evaluate your plan
  • Define different types of exercises
  • Learn how to conduct exercises
  • Use exercise results to evaluate the effectiveness of the plan
• Program Improvement
  • Identify when the preparedness program needs to be reviewed
  • Discover methods to evaluate the preparedness program
  • Utilize the review to make necessary changes and plan improvements

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Pledge to Prepare

20120325-A-CY398-006 (Photo credit: 29th CAB - Public Affairs)

Interested in preparedness throughout the year? If so, continue here to Pledge to Prepare.  By Pledging you will become part of the National Preparedness Coalition.  There is no cost or obligation in doing so.  As a Coalition Member, you will have access to exclusive resources and be able to collaborate with thousands of fellow members across the country on ways to participate and get your community involved. 


http://community.fema.gov/connect.ti/system/register?nextURL=%2Fconnect.ti%2FREADYNPM%2FrequestJoinGroup%3FSHOWREG%3D%26amp%3BCONFIRM%3DN%26amp%3BDONEM

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If a disaster strikes...how to evacuate

It’s smart to think before you act. For something as traumatic as an evacuation, preparing ahead of time can lessen your stress level and improve your state of mind. Determine your most valuable belongings, pack them up and put them by the door or in the car. Take your important insurance, medical and financial documents with you. Fill up your escape vehicle with gas. Turn off gas and water supplies at main switches and valves. Secure all loose yard items such as lawn furniture, barbecue grills, trash cans and planter boxes. Move more valuable items to inner rooms or, in the case of a flood, upper floors. If a hurricane is approaching, you may want to board up the windows of your home with plywood. Have a clear evacuation route in mind before you leave. Notify your neighbors when you are leaving and where you plan to go. If you do not have a vehicle, arrange a ride with a neighbor or call your local City Emergency phone number.

Okay, time to grab your kids, your pets and your most valuable items. If you’ve planned properly, the actual evacuation process should proceed with in an orderly fashion. Here’s what you should do: Turn off your lights and unplug any unnecessary appliances. Load up your car and get all of your family members into the vehicle as well. Remember to put your disaster supply kit in the car. Close and lock all windows and doors of your residence. Check to make sure that you have a good, up-to-date road map. Don’t forget your cell phones, which should be fully charged. Take your checkbook, credit cards and cash with you. Be sure that you have flashlights with extra batteries. Drive away from your home at a safe speed.

For many people, an office building is like a home away from home. We spend a good portion of our waking hours at work. So it’s possible that, at some point, you may get trapped in a building during a fire, an earthquake or some other disaster. Once again, the best evacuations are those done calmly and orderly. Here’s some advice that could save your life when fleeing a building. Go to the nearest fire escape exit when you hear a fire alarm or see a fire. If you need to descend from a higher floor, always take the stairs… never use the elevator. Alert others to the possible danger as you exit the building. Offer assistance to others if it does not threaten your own life. If possible, as you exit avoid areas in the building that might contain chemicals or other flammables. If it is a fire situation, close doors and windows behind you as you leave, as this can slow the spread of fire and smoke. Follow any designated evacuation signs posted in the building. Once you get outside, go immediately to an area that is safely away from the disaster site. When you are safely outside, make a mental note of any people that seem to be missing and notify emergency personnel at the site.

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New research challenges assumptions that the central part of the San Andreas fault would act as a barrier, preventing a big quake from traveling between the northern and southern parts of the state.

A recent article points to possibility that California could be hit by a statewide earthquake. The San Andreas fault was once thought to be a barrier that would prevent a statewide quake from happening, but now researchers say that assumption may be wrong.

The article appeared in the COPE newsletter (http://cope-preparedness.org/archives/2416). COPE stands for Community Outreach Promoting Emergency Preparedness.

The major earthquakes in Japan pointed researchers to the fact that "Using a combination of laboratory measurements and computer simulations, the two scientists showed how so-called creeping segments in a fault — long thought to be benign because they slip slowly and steadily along as tectonic plates shift — might behave like locked segments, which build up stress over time and then rupture.?

Are you ready?

Do You Know About ENLA?

Emergency Network Los Angeles, Inc. (ENLA) is a network of Los Angeles County, non profit, community based organizations (CBOs) that provide assistance to individuals, families, and organizations following emergencies and disasters. ENLA works in coordination with government agencies and the private sector.

ENLA is recognized by the Los Angeles County Operational Area and the City of Los Angeles as the networking agency for community based organizations.

ENLA is the Los Angeles County VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters), and is recognized by Southern California VOAD and National VOAD.

ENLA is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) organization under the laws of the State of California.

OUR MISSION
ENLA’s mission is to enhance the capacity of non-profit, community, and faith-based organizations, government agencies and the private sector for preparedness, response to and recovery from disasters in Los Angeles County by facilitating cooperation, communication, coordination & collaboration.

OUR HISTORY
Following the 1994 Northridge Earthquake, the Mayor of Los Angeles convened a meeting of CBOs that were active in the recovery from the disaster. The combined efforts of members of this group significantly aided the earthquake recovery efforts. In December of that year that group, which had become known as ENLA, merged with the Los Angeles County VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters) and the Los Angeles Access Network to bring all CBO disaster work in Los Angeles County under one umbrella. In 1997, both Los Angeles County and the City of Los Angeles designated ENLA as their primary point of contact with community based organizations for disaster preparedness and recovery efforts.

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