FYI:  NEIGHBORHOOD EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS CHECKLIST

Use the following list to prepare yourself in case of emergency.  A lot of city services stress educating individuals, especially if city, state, and federal services are overwhelmed in a time of crisis.  Also work with your neighbors to develop a block-by-block safety & preparedness plan in case of such instances.

MAKE SURE YOUR HOME IS SAFE – secure heavy / glass / overhead objects in case of an earthquake, make sure fire alarm batteries work, make sure fire extinguishers are functioning.

HAVE AN ESCAPE ROUTE – for emergencies at work & home.  Have a meet-up place, but be aware that traffic in LA will be at a near standstill in the event of a major disaster.  Know what to do to protect yourself in case of a flood, fire, earthquake, and general terrorism.

HAVE A COMMUNICATIONS PLAN – keep the phone numbers of family, friends, neighbors, and emergency services  handy, but be aware that phone lines will likely be tied up.  For out of state contacts, it is best to call ONE person who can contact the rest of your out of state contacts.

MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A PREPAREDNESS KIT – recommended items for home, car, work, & school  include ID and emergency contact cards; medical data + pills & medicines + any special instructions; cash ($100 in small bills); flashlights, AM/FM radio, extra batteries for both; plastic bags and sanitary supplies / toiletries; first aid kit (aspirin, bandages & gauze, rubber gloves, alcohol & peroxide); warm clothes & sturdy shoes; blankets; city map; 5 gallons of water / person + 7 days worth of dry goods; can opener;  extra items for pet & baby;  games / cards for diversions / kids; non-scented bleach (8 drops per gallon will help reduce contaminants in water).

KEEP SECURE A LIST OF YOUR BELONGINGS, VITAL STATS, and PERSONAL DOCUMENTATION  –  It is recommended that these docs (proof of residence, tax records, deeds, wills, etc.), along with photocopies of ID, social security,  credit cards, be put in a Ziploc and secured in a fireproof safe.

KNOW YOUR NEIGHBOR – especially if they have special needs (elderly, disabled, children, pets).  Secure your own safety, then, safety permitting, check on your neighbor.  It also helps to have a neighborhood plan, in which individuals’ skills are known to strengthen community ties in case of an emergency.  Also, it doesn’t hurt to drop by your local fire department and let them know who you are, especially if your household has special needs.

FIND AN EMERGENCY SHELTER – local authorities do not announce where shelters are until an emergency occurs (so that they are confident that the shelters are safe for use), but common areas include wide-open spaces (parks, parking lots, and schools – every LAUSD public school is already equipped with a freight container filled with supplies for up to 300 people).

MAKE SURE THAT YOUR ELECTRICITY IS TURNED OFF, especially in the event of an earthquake,  in order to avoid any further emergency situations – know how to turn off your water, your gas supply, as well as how to shut down your circuit box.  Also in the case of an earthquake, DO NOT USE YOUR CHIMNEY – if it has collapsed, it may actually trap smoke in your house.

RESOURCES

YOUR LOCAL BLOCK CAPTAIN: ­____________________  ­­

ALL EMERGENCIES                                                   911

DWP                                                                           800.DIAL DWP       1-800-342-5397)

LA FIRE OR PARAMEDICS (alt #)               1-800-688-8000

CITY EMERGENCY INFORMATION HELPINE   1-888-356-4661

RED CROSS SHELTER DATA                                     800.GET INFO     (1-800-438-4357)

FEMA                          http://www.fema.gov      1-800-621-3362

LA RED CROSS           http://www.acrossla.org 213-739-5200 

LAPD  HOLLYWOOD DIVISION COMMUNITY RELATIONS OFFICE   213-485-4310

SENIOR LEAD OFFICE MICHAEL D. SHEA             213-793-0710

SENIOR LEAD OFFICE ARMEN SEYDALIAN           213-793-0712

REPORT ANY SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITIES                 877-275-5273

http://www.lapdonline.com has crime prevention information

http://www.lafd.org has a list of emergency resource sites

http://www.lafd.org/eqbook.pdf is a 40-page handbook for emergency preparedness.  RECOMMENDED.

Personal Disaster Preparedness  Inventory Guides:  http://www.insurance.ca.gov/0100-consumers/0060-information-guides/0040-residential/upload/Home-Inventory-Guide.pdf

http://www.operationhope.org/effak/ 

http://www.operationhope.org/pdpg/ 

More FEMA Guides:  http://www.ready.gov/america/publications/allpubs.html

http://www.lacity.org/epd   LA Emergency Preparedness Department General Website

http://www.cert-la.com CERT – Community Emergency Response Team ; 17.5 hour training session

    (LAFD also offers a 3.5 hour Disaster Awareness Course)

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Crime Maps on LAPDONLINE.ORG

The Los Angeles Police Department is responsible for serving the people in Los Angeles with far less resources and manpower than cities like New York and Chicago. The LAPD manages to protect the people of LA by concentrating its resources where they are most needed. One of the ways that they do this is by monitoring the incidence of crime throughout our city. Recently, the LAPD began making crime maps available on the internet to show the incidence and location of the commission of various crimes, including burglaries, car theft and robberies. The maps are accessible at www.lapdonline.org (and accessible through the city service links on this website).  A recent review of the crime maps shows that Hollywood Heights is relatively safer than a number of surrounding areas.  However, it should be kept in mind that these maps are no more accurate than the reporting that goes into them.  As such, if you are the victim of a car burglary or any other type of crime, make sure that you report the crime to LAPD so that the LAPD can accurately gauge the needs of our community.

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