Earthquakes are Emergency Preparedness Reminders Sept. 2015

The recent earthquakes in nearby Big Bear and off the South American coast of Santiago, Chile, serve as important reminders for everybody to be prepared now for local disasters and emergencies at home, at work and in your cars. It is not a matter of “if” but “when” a major earthquake or disaster will impact our area. Your survival, and the survival of your family, may depend on how well you are prepared.

Pasadena’s Public Safety officials urge everybody to be prepared now—or start preparing today—with emergency supplies, including “Go Kits” for homes, cars and your workplace; pre-determined evacuation plans for family and pets, emergency supplies at home and many other steps that will help you, your loved ones and animal companions survive in the days or weeks following a major disaster or emergency event.

YOU READY TO SURVIVE AN EMERGENCY?

Don’t delay, go today to www.readypasadena.net for disaster preparedness tips.

Successful emergency preparedness means having enough food, water, medicine, first aid supplies, personal hygiene products, flashlights, batteries and solar chargers for all necessary electronic devices, solar- or battery-operated radio, clothing and other critical supplies for each person and pet in your household to last a minimum of three days to a week, or longer, if possible. You need about one gallon of water per person, per day.

It is important to remember that in the event of a widespread disaster or emergency, police and fire officials throughout the region most likely will become quickly overwhelmed with 9-1-1 calls. You and your neighbors may be on your own, without assistance from first responders, for hours or even days.

If you are not prepared, start by watching an informative, 12-minute disaster preparedness video posted at www.cityofpasadena.net/Disaster_Preparedness_Video/.

This important emergency preparedness video is available in English and Spanish, with captions and audio descriptions in both English and Spanish.

Additional disaster preparedness info is available at www.readypasadena.net, including a handy “Emergency Survival Guide” (PDF document) prepared by the County of Los Angeles.

The American Red Cross also offers an important website on preparing for disasters at www.PrepareSoCal.org.

EMERGENCY NOTICES BY THE CITY

During widespread emergencies, the City will use a variety of ways to send out emergency public information, including:

• Our website and social media platforms

• Direct calls or text messages to you

• Our government cable TV station, KPAS

• Traditional messages sent to the local news media for distribution, and

• Disaster Information Sites established outside our Pasadena Fire Stations.

KPAS—CITY GOVERNMENT TV

KPAS, provided by Pasadena Media, www.pasadenamedia.tv, is seen on Channel 3 by Charter cable TV subscribers and Channel 99 for AT&T U-verse subscribers. Information broadcast by KPAS is also streamed on the City’s website at www.cityofpasadena.net/Media and the Pasadena Media website.

PLEAS

Pasadena officials urge all residents and those who work in the City to sign up today for emergency alerts, Red Flag announcements and other information from the City by joining the City’s Pasadena Local Emergency Alert System, or PLEAS.

PLEAS uses both text and voice messages to keep residents and community members in Pasadena informed in case of citywide or major emergencies. Phone subscribers will receive a message with the latest information and safety instructions—that must be listened to in its entirety or the system will call you back.

Go to www.cityofpasadena.net/Fire/PLEAS to register today your phone today.

SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS

The City of Pasadena also uses a variety of other social media accounts, especially Twitter, to send out alerts, including the following online pages and mobile handles:

www.twitter.com/PasadenaGov, @PasadenaGov

www.twitter.com/PasadenaFD, @PasadenaFD

www.twitter.com/PWPnews, @PWPnews

www.twitter.com/PasPD_News, @PasPD_News

In addition to the Twitter accounts, stay connected with the City via www.cityofpasadena.net

Pasadena’s main Facebook page, www.facebook.com/CityofPasadena

Instagram @PasadenaGov, www.instagram.com/pasadenagov

YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/pasadengov

Residents can also sign up at Nixle, a free social media notification system used by many public safety agencies, including Pasadena’s Police and Fire Departments. Go to www.Nixle.com to see up a free account. You can get alerts via your phone, text or email. Be sure to define the geographic after that you want covered for alerts and the

CITY DISASTER INFORMATION SITES

The City has designated ALL Pasadena Fire Stations to serve as “Disaster Information Sites” where key emergency information can be distributed to the public and/or received from neighborhood representatives for use at the City’s Emergency Operations Center.

Disaster Information Sites will be activated during widespread emergencies or disasters when other methods of communication—electronic, news media TV and radio, website and social media—become unreliable or inoperable. Disaster Information Sites will be staffed as emergency public information conduits only and NOT distribution points for food, water or other emergency assistance.

CITIZEN SERVICE CENTER

Our Citizen Service Center, generally is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, and can be reached at (626) 744-7311.
Remember, for all life-threatening emergencies always call 9-1-1.

If you see something suspicious, say something by call us at (626) 744-4241.

During widespread emergencies, it is possible that phone lines may be down, or periodically inoperable. Cell towers could be damaged and cell service, as well as the 9-1-1, could be easily overwhelmed.

If you make a call, and reach an operator, speak as calmly as possible. Know your location and be able to provide a key landmark nearby for additional geographic reference.

Listen carefully and answer any questions as briefly and accurately as possible.

CERT

Want emergency training through the Community Emergency Response Training (CERT) program? Email us at pasadenaCERT@cityofpasadena.net for more information and class training schedules. Or call (626) 744-7276 to request CERT training.

WATER & POWER

Pasadena residents and businesses with any power emergencies should call Pasadena Water and Power Department (PWP) at (626) 744-4673.

For water emergencies, call (626) 744-4138.

Sign up today for PWP’s Outage Management System to get up-to-date alerts on your phone and by email regarding any power outages, visit www.cityofpasadena.net/waterandpower/OMS

TIPS AND SUGGESTIONS

Other handy tips and suggestions:

Learn how to turn off the gas and water service at your home. Shut off gas immediately if you smell a “rotten egg” odor or here a hissing sound. Keep a turn-off wrench tied to your gas meter. Never turn gas back on once you turn it off—let the Gas Co. or a certified plumber do it and to check for leaks.

Water is a precious resource following a disaster. Turn off water at main water valve. Know where your main water valve is; label it and only turn back on after hearing that the local water system is safe for drinking.

Make copies of important documents as part of your Go Kits.

Consider adding some comfort food and a few basic toys or board games for children in your group.

All pets will need their own portable shelters, or crates, litter box for cats, in order to be easily transported and kept near you should you have to evacuate.

Make a habit of keeping your vehicles full of gas or fully charged as gas stations and charging sites might not be available.

Consider keeping a small amount of cash in your Go Kits as your regular ATM might be unavailable or out of cash and retail stores may not be able to process credit card transactions.

As you update and rotate supplies, consider increasing your emergency supplies, as appropriate, with things like extra tarps, tools, tents, a portable generator, toilet kits, large trash bags, fire extinguishers, blankets and heat sources.

Add a solar-based charging system to you inventory to keep your cell phones, tablets or other electronic devices charged during extended power outages.

MORE INFO / WEB LINKS / SUGGESTIONS

Other handy website links and suggestions:

FEMA: www.fema.gov / www.ready.gov / www.ready.gov/build-a-kit

National Weather Service, weather updates for the region, www.weather.gov/losangeles

American Red Cross, www.redcross.org

Pasadena Humane Society, pet-care tips, www.pasadenahumane.org