It’s not a matter of if, but when, our community will face a natural disaster. That is why it is so important to be prepared and why our City provides preparedness trainings and special events for you and your family.
It’s easy to put off tasks such as preparing emergency kits for the office, home and vehicle, and organizing water and food supplies for a minimum of 72 hours for you and your family.
Advance preparation should also include securing a first aid kit, tools and supplies like flashlights, pliers, gloves, prescription medicines and even emergency supplies for your pets.
In your home, emergency preparation should include securing heavy furniture to the wall; using safety straps for stereos and computers; using nondrying putty or microcrystalline wax to secure pottery and other small, breakable items on shelves; installing child-vproof locks on cupboards with breakable items inside; and supporting ceiling lights and fans with a cable bolted to the ceiling joist. You should also learn where your utility shut offs are located (gas, water and electricity), and know how to safely shut them off if needed.
If you are a pet owner, remember your pet(s) needs to be prepared too – water, food, medications, a leash, and a carrier/crate for evacuation. While the Los Angeles County Animal Care and Control have emergency trailers available and ready to support an evacuation of animal during a major emergency, it is ultimately up to a pet owner to have an emergency/evacuation plan for their pets. Our local hospital has spent a great deal of time preparing for emergencies and serves as an important community partner in the response and recovery phases of major disasters.
In April, local experts in emergency response will be on hand to walk you through emergency preparation and response at the annual Emergency Expo on Saturday, April 25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Hyatt Valencia. The SCV Emergency Expo is presented by KHTS-AM1220 and held in conjunction with the Santa Clarita Home and Garden Show.
As part of the Emergency Expo, the City of Santa Clarita CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) volunteers will engage attendees with the “Be Prepared, Be Ready & Be Resilient Game Wheel,” and players will receive a pocket flashlight. Stop by the booth and gain more knowledge on how to be better prepared for all emergencies; don’t be left in the dark. For more information about the Emergency Expo and for vendor registration, visit www.scvemergencyexpo.com.
It is important that as a community, we continue to work together to be prepared. Your City wants to help keep you safe, protected and healthy. I would like to encourage you and your family to attend the Emergency Expo and make April your month to get prepared. Thank you for your participation in our community. Please feel free to email me directly with your thoughts and ideas at: mmclean@santa-clarita.com.