National Preparedness Month is a nationwide effort held each September to encourage Americans to take simple steps to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and schools. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security sponsors national Preparedness Month 2007. The goal of the month is to increase public awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies and to encourage individuals to take action.

Throughout September, Homeland Security will work with a wide variety of organizations, including local, state and federal government agencies and the private sector, to highlight the importance of family emergency preparedness and promote individual involvement through events and activities across the nation.

Preparedness Links

It's Time to Get Prepared!

Earthquakes, wildfires, flooding, mudslides, and threats of terrorism can all be classified as emergencies or disasters. Living in the greater Orange County area, specifically Los Alamitos, it is easy to believe we won’t be affected by these incidents. We experience fantastic weather for most of the year, we live in a small quaint city, and the majority of the City’s population has resided here for several years. Because of these positive attributes, it is easy to tell yourself that a disaster won’t happen here or it won’t happen to me. Unfortunately, we are just as likely to experience a disaster here, whether it is an act of Mother Nature or criminal intent, as any place in the county or country. That is the bad news. The good news is that the City of Los Alamitos is taking steps to prepare for a potential disaster or terrorist event.

The City of Los Alamitos has a Disaster Preparedness Team made up of employees from each City department as well as volunteers from the community. The Team meets monthly to discuss issues affecting the City. Through funding, provided by the Department of Homeland Security, the City has purchased specialized equipment and trained first responders to respond to incidents of terrorism. The City is also working with other local jurisdictions to share information and develop improved mitigation plans to enhance emergency preparedness in our community. Because preparation for disasters is vital, the City of Los Alamitos encourages each community member to take the steps necessary to get prepared.

These are some things you can do to prepare and protect your loved ones in the event of a disaster. Below you will find a short list that can make a difference in a major disaster.

• Acknowledge that a disaster can happen here, and you can be affected. Discuss these issues with your family, co-workers, and friends.
• If you have children, contact school officials and familiarize yourself with their emergency plans.
• Create an emergency communication plan. In other words, designate one or more out of town contacts to check on you in the event phone lines are damaged.
• Build a disaster supply kit for your home, work, and all of your personal vehicles. These kits should contain enough water, and-perishable foods to last several days. First aid kits, battery operated flashlights and radios, prescription medication, hand tools, duct tape, and other necessities will be useful too. The American Cross has these kits available for purchase.
• Renew your first aid / CPR skills. If you have never taken a class, contact the American Red Cross. It could make all the difference until help arrives.
• Be prepared to go without services we take for granted. Remember electrical systems may be down impacting ATMs, gas stations, Internet, and other conveniences.
• If a disaster is imminent or there are strong warnings of another terrorist attack, follow the advice of the local authorities, listen to the radio or television broadcasts for news and instructions.
• Stop by the Police Department to pick up your free copy of a Home Safety Emergency Plan.

The City of Los Alamitos, and its Disaster Preparedness Team is working hard to lessen the impact of a major disaster or terrorist event, but they need your help. During a disaster, it is possible that emergency services will not reach you for hours, even days. Police and Fire responders will be tasked with prioritizing their response based on need and damage to critical City and County infrastructure systems. This can create a feeling of helplessness if you are not prepared. Many times the key to surviving a major disaster comes down to your proactive approach to preparation. Remember, if it can happen anywhere, it can happen here.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS LINKS

Federal

September is Preparedness Month
http://www.ready.gov/america/npm07/index.html
US Readiness Center
http://www.ready.gov/
Department of Homeland Security
http://www.dhs.gov/
FEMA
http://www.fema.gov/
Citizen’s Corps
http://www.citizencorps.gov/

California

Governor’s Office of Homeland Security
http://www.homeland.ca.gov/
Office of Emergency Services
http://www.oes.ca.gov/
Emergency Digital Information Service
http://www.edis.ca.gov/

County of Orange

County Readiness Center
http://www.readyoc.org/
Fire Authority
http://www.ocfa.org/

City of Los Alamitos

Emergency Preparation Center
http://www.losalamitospolice.org/support/emergencyprep.htm
West County CERT
http://westcountycert.com/

Red Cross

National
http://www.redcross.org/
County
http://www.oc-redcross.org/

LINKS

Planning for Disaster (PDF)
Disaster Supply Kit
Prepare Your Family
Prepare Your Business

Earthquake Preparation
Biological Threats
Chemical Threats
Radiation Threats
Nuclear Threats

Responding to Terrorism