Ready Long Beach

Saturday, February 16, 2013

KCET Host Val Zavala Joins Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske for Ready Long Beach

Val Zavala

KCET Host Val Zavala joins Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske on March 9th, 9am until 2 pm at the Ready Long Beach public forum on how to get ready for the next big earthquake. Zavala is featured on the KCET Special Bracing for a Quake and appears on the popular public affairs program SoCal Connected.

1933 Long Beach Earthquake

Ready Long Beach will be held at the El Dorado Community Center, 2800 N. Studebaker.

Clock in downtown Long Beach which stopped at exact time of earthquake in 1933.

Councilwoman Schipske will present a historic look at the 1933 Long Beach earthquake followed by experts from USGS, FEMA, CAEMA, Long Beach Fire Department, CERT and American Red Cross who will discuss current information on how to prepare to survive a major earthquake. The event is open to the public. Lunch will be provided and then residents are encouraged to work with representatives of the local American Red Cross in outlining how they can prepare their own neighborhoods.

Ready Long Beach is a project of 5th District Councilwoman Gerrie Schipske.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Earthquake Detection Needed Says Experts

Cracked highway near Long Beach, 1933 (Photo credit: California Watch)

Just like a system used in Japan that places sensors in the ground to give residents an alert of a major earthquake, US experts are pushing for the same here in he US.

In a Los Angeles Times article, it was pointed out that the alert could give other communities precious seconds of notice that would allow metro and trains to be stopped to prevent derailment.

For more information on the proposed system click here.

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Statewide Earthquake Deemed a Possibility

Once thought to be impossible -- an earthquake that could travel the entire length of the State of California is now being considered possible. Check out this story posted in the Los Angeles Times. News like this really should bring home the importance of a City being prepared to take care of its own residents. Get ready, Long Beach.

Sunday, January 6, 2013

Don't Forget to Prepare for your Pets in a Disaster

Commuter Survival Kit (Photo credit: Annie Mole)

If your pet is small enough, purchase a travel carrier so that you can easily take him/her with you if an evacuation is ordered.
Make sure that your pet wears a visible identification tag or is microchipped.
Keep pertinent contact information handy... it should include phone numbers for your veterinarian, animal shelters, police and fire departments.
Keep a minimum two-week supply of pet food and water in your residence at all times.
Keep some of your pet’s favorite treats on hand, too, for those times when he or she gets particularly stressed.
Always keep a leash in your vehicle, if you have a dog.
Start a "buddy system"; with a neighbor so they can check on your pet during a disaster, in case you aren't home.
Remember to comfort and reassure your pet during a disaster, as they become frightened, too.

Hey, don’t just stock up those important disaster supplies for yourself, your spouse and children. Your beloved pets need a survival kit, too. Here’s a list of what that kit should include:

Pet food (in airtight/waterproof container)
Water
Any pertinent medications
Contact information
Written instructions for your pet's care
Photo of your pet
Small blanket
Animal toy
If you have a cat, you should also include a small shoebox and a bag of sand for a makeshift litter box

There’s a knock at your door The fire department or some other emergency professional is telling you it’s time to evacuate. In all the confusion and excitement, don’t forget to provide a safe exit for your pet, too…whether it’s something as small as a goldfish, as popular as a dog or cat, or as big as a horse! Your plans should already have been made… now all that’s left is to get from Point A to Point B. Remember these recommendations:

If you can't actually take your animals with you to a friend’s house or a hotel, transport them to your veterinarian’s boarding facilities or to an accredited pet shelter
Before leaving the house, put your pet in a carrying case of some kind, if applicable, because animals will often run off when scared; large animals may have to be transported by trailer
Remember to put your pet's emergency kit, including important medical papers, in the car
Talk soothingly to your pets throughout the ordeal, to calm their nerves.
Remember that government-run human shelters will not allow pets

The more knowledge you have about pet care during a disaster, the better the chance that your pet will survive. Here are some helpful websites that can provide additional information:
Humane Society of the United States www.humanesociety.org
National Association of Professional Pet Sitters www.petsitters.org
SPCA International www.spcai.org
The National Lost Pet Hotline can offer valuable assistance as well. To report a missing pet, call the hotline, at (900) 535-1515. This is a charge call. To report a found animal, call the toll-free hotline number, at (800) 755-8111.