The City of Los Angeles has always been susceptible to natural disasters from wildfires and earthquakes, to drought and extreme heat. Council District 4 is uniquely vulnerable to the increasing dangers created by climate change, with neighborhoods spanning from the flats to the hillsides and the valleys. We know that a little bit of preparation goes a long way in the event of an emergency, so this month, we’re launching our third annual #ReadyCD4 campaign. Protecting our community and preserving the beautiful and beloved resources of Council District 4 starts with education and engagement!
We’re kicking off #ReadyCD4 with our first event in Beachwood on July 22 at 9AM, where we are partnering with MySafe:LA to go door-to-door with fire safety resources, emergency kits, and critical information for residents in the area. And, on August 12 at 10AM, we’re partnering with the Los Angeles Fire Department to bring you a Disaster Preparedness Workshop, where LAFD will lead a fire extinguisher training, tourniquet training, hands-only CPR training, and more.
Below, you will also find a comprehensive list of resources and additional events for you and your neighbors so that you are prepared if and when a disaster takes place. Planning for emergencies and disasters is an important part of taking care of yourself and those around you, especially our more vulnerable community members. For more information on emergency preparedness for people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs, and alternative formats and languages, please click HERE.
As always, be sure to contact our office with any questions or concerns at contactcd4@lacity.org. And, stay tuned throughout the month as we highlight resources and upcoming events in the district that can help keep you and your loved ones stay informed, engaged, and alert. To stay up-to-date on these resources, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok!
Wishing you all a safe and happy summer,
Nithya
I. Ready CD4 Events —Beachwood Canyon Door-To-Door Outreach with MySafe:LA, Disaster Preparedness Workshop with LAFD and MySafe:LA, Save the Date: West Valley Emergency Preparedness Workshop
II. Resources — Fires Preparedness, Extreme Heat, Low-Cost A/C Unit Rebates and Other LADWP Assistance Programs, Earthquakes, Landslides and Mudslides, Power Outages, Ready Your LA Neighborhood (RYLAN), LAFD Free Disaster Preparedness Trainings
BEACHWOOD CANYON DOOR-TO-DOOR OUTREACH WITH MYSAFE:LA | JULY 22 |MORE INFO
Calling all volunteers! Join us on July 22 from 9AM to 12PM in going door-to-door in Beachwood Canyon to ensure residents are prepared in the event of wildfire or other potential disaster.
This neighborhood has one of the highest concentrations of apartments in a High Fire Hazard Severity Zone in Council District 4. As we know, many residents in High Fire Hazard Severity Zones are unaware they live in such an area, or what that entails.
Volunteers will distribute emergency kits to each resident, and important information to help them become prepared. Alongside MySafe:LA and the Beachwood Canyon Neighborhood Association, our office aims to reach 1000 residents in the neighborhood.
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP WITH LA FIRE DEPARTMENT AND MYSAFE:LA | AUGUST 12 |MORE INFO
Join us for a Disaster Preparedness Workshop on Saturday August 12th from 10AM to 12PM. Our very own LAFD Disaster Preparedness unit will provide attendees with general brush clearance and emergency preparedness information. LAFD instructors will lead a fire extinguisher training, tourniquet training, and hands-only CPR training. We will also have a gas shut-off demonstration. We encourage you to sign up for this workshop, and bring your neighbors and friends.
SAVE THE DATE: WEST VALLEY EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WORKSHOP | AUG. 26 |INTEREST FORM
Save the date for an Emergency Preparedness Workshop in the West Valley on August 26! To share what type of resources would be useful and to receive information once more details become available, fill out our interest form HERE.
FIRE PREPAREDNESS
Catastrophic brush fires are occurring at an increasing rate not only in California but across the country. Hillside communities within Los Angeles are under continuous threat of a devastating wildfire. As this risk increases, it is important you protect yourself and your family by planning, preparing and staying aware.
Being “Ready” for wildfire starts with maintaining an adequate defensible space around your home. By following the City of Los Angeles brush clearance requirements, you are creating an area around your home that is free of vegetation. This is what is called ‘defensible space’ and it allows the fire department to place firefighters between your home and the approaching flames. Without this space, the fire will quickly spread through the brush/vegetation to your home and there is little that can be done to defend it.
To learn more about brush clearance requirements and to check the brush status of your property, clickHERE.
In addition to brush clearance, you can ‘harden your home’ by using fire-resistant building materials. Flying embers from a wildfire can destroy homes up to a mile away.
To learn more about ways to harden your home and make it more fire resistant, clickHERE.
For those staying or living in an RV, here are some RV fire prevention and safety tips:
To find your nearest fire station and their contact information, click HERE.
To sign up for real-time fire alerts and advisories, click HERE.
To additional fire safety preparedness tips, visit the LAFD’s “Ready, Set, Go!” resource page HERE.
EXTREME HEAT
Los Angeles County is known for its year-round great weather, but when temperatures increase during the summer months, the heat can be unpleasant, and at times dangerous. Use the resources below to prepare for and stay safe during periods of extreme heat.
LOW-COST A/C UNIT REBATES AND OTHER LADWP ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS |MORE INFO
The Cool LA air conditioner rebate is back by popular demand for a limited time! Income-qualified customers are eligible to receive a rebate of up to $225 ($75 standard Efficient Product Market AC rebate + $150 limited time Cool LA rebate) for Energy Star rated Window and Wall Air Conditioning Units, and Title 20–compliant Portable Air Conditioning Units.
To qualify for the limited time Cool LA rebate, customers must have an active electric account on a discount rate (participating in one of the following programs: EZ-Save Program, Senior Citizen/Disability Lifeline Rate Program, Life-Support Equipment Discount Program, and Physician Certified Allowance Discount)
For more information on the Cool LA Rebate Program, click HERE.
For more LADWP Rebates and Assistance Programs, click HERE.
For more information about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), click HERE.
Learn the signs of heat-related illness
Heat-related illnesses are preventable. Learn the symptoms and what to do if you or a loved one shows signs of having a heat-related illness.
Find a FREE Cooling Center near you
During extended periods of excessive heat, LA City will open dedicated cooling centers and post their locations and hours of operations here as well as on @ReadyLA social media. These will typically be at City Recreation and Parks facilities, which are also available — whenever they are open — as shelter from the weather, even when no dedicated cooling centers have yet been opened.
During excessive and extreme heat events, more than 70 LA City Public Library branches around the City are also available for cooling and shelter during their regular business hours. Also, check out other available cooling resources listed below or linked resources available through City and County agencies and partners.
The City of Los Angeles, Recreation and Parks Department, Aquatics Division offers families and community members many healthy, affordable and safe aquatic activities at their public pools, lakes and beaches. The Aquatics Division operates 39 seasonal swimming pools, 16 year-round swimming pools and 3 camp pools, and 3 LAUSD pools. In addition, the city operates 11 open water facilities. These open water facilities are open year round, offering fishing, paddle boating and small craft programs.
Discover & Go is a program provided by your library that offers free and low-cost passes for museums, science centers, zoos, theatres, and other cultural destinations. You must meet your library’s minimum age requirement and live within your library’s service area to use the Discover & Go
LA Public Library cardholders may reserve and print a pass to present at Zoo admissions ticket window and receive up to four complimentary daytime general admission tickets. First come first served.
To reserve a pass to one of the many attractions, clickHERE!
Visit the Griffith Observatory
Griffith Observatory – Admission to the Observatory building, the grounds, and the public telescopes is always free. However, there are fees for parking and ticket costs for the Samuel Oschin Planetarium.
LADOT operates daily low cost DASH Observatory/Los Feliz public bus service from the Vermont/Sunset Metro Red Line station to the Observatory daily from 10:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The bus stops in front of the Observatory along the horseshoe driveway every 20-25 minutes. There are also stops at Mt. Hollywood Drive (for access to Griffith Park hiking trails), at the Greek Theatre, and along Hillhurst Avenue in Los Feliz Village.
Bus to Griffith Observatory cost is 50 cents, but only 35 cents with a Metro TAP card.
Seniors and persons with disabilities pay 25 cents.
Small children (4 years and under) and LADOT or Metrolink pass holders ride for free.
Visit a museum during FREE days
LA Plaza de Cultura y Arte – Admission is always free and no reservations are required. Museum location and hours available HERE.
Hammer Museum – Admission is always free and no reservations are required. Museum location and hours available HERE.
Institute of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles – Admission is always free and no reservations are required. Museum location and hours available HERE.
Natural History Museum Los Angeles – L.A. County Residents get free Museum Admission from 3–5 pm Monday through Friday. Learn more about Museum Free Hours and Admission HERE.
California Science Center – Permanent galleries, including space shuttle Endeavour, are FREE and do not require a reservation. Museum location and hours available HERE.
Getty Center or Getty Villa – Admission is free to both locations, and requires a timed-entry reservation. Make your reservations HERE.
EARTHQUAKES
We know that there are many things to be worried about, but when it comes to earthquakes, it is not a matter of if but when one will occur. Earthquakes can cause severe damage to infrastructure and can result in injuries and fatalities. There is no earthquake season — they can strike any time of year.
Here are some ways you can secure your space to be earthquake ready:
Secure your space
Hang plants in lightweight pots with closed hooks, well secured to a joist or stud and far away from windows
Install strong latches on kitchen cabinets.
Use flexible connections where gas lines meet appliances.
Remove or lock refrigerator wheels, secure to studs.
Secure valuable electronics items such as computers and televisions.
Keep breakables in low or secure cabinets with latches.
Move heavy plants and other large items to floor or low shelves.
Hang mirrors and pictures on closed hooks, and secure them to walls with velcro.
Secure free-standing wood stoves or fireplace inserts.
Keep heavy unstable objects away from doors and exit routes.
Place bed away from windows or items that may fall and place only light weight/soft items over bed.
Secure knick knacks and other small valuables with museum putty.
Brace overhead light fixtures.
Secure top-heavy furniture to studs.
Secure water heater with metal straps attached to studs.
Trim hazardous tree limbs.
Here are some of the ways to receive earthquake warnings:
MyShake App. An app that can be downloaded for mobile devices at no cost from Google Play and the Apple App Store. App users can set up a “HomeBase” location to receive earthquake warnings without having location services turned on.
Android Earthquake Alerts. Included in new or updated Android devices, the system uses the same technology as the MyShake App.
Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEAs). Text-like messages from the government during emergency situations. This includes Presidential, Imminent Threats (fire, earthquake, floods, etc.), and AMBER alerts.
When an earthquake warning is issued from any of these sources, you should act quickly and take protective actions to stay safe, such as:
Dropping to the ground
Covering your head with your arms
Holding onto your neck with both hands until shaking stops
Remember: do NOT stand in doorways or near glass windows.
If you receive a warning, please be sure to react with the assumption that shaking will occur soon after. There may be circumstances where a warning is issued, but no shaking occurs. It is always better to err on the side of caution when it comes to earthquakes.
To learn more about the latest tools and resources or to sign up for the California Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) e-newsletter that includes the latest news and information about Earthquake Warning California, click HERE.
For additional earthquake safety resources, click HERE.
LANDSLIDES AND MUDSLIDES
It is important for residents who live on steep hillsides and in canyons to be prepared for landslides and mudslides.
Wherever you live, work, or play, take the following actions to help reduce your risk of death, injury and property losses from landslides, mudslides and other types of ground failure. You can reduce the potential impacts of land movement by doing the following:
Assume that burn areas and canyon, hillside, mountain and other steep areas are more likely to have landslides and mudslides.
Limit the height of plants near buildings to 18 inches.
Use plants and bushes that are less likely to burn and keep them watered. This not only helps with landslides/mudslides, but is also helpful for fire safety.
Water landscape to promote early growth.
Get rid of litter and dead/dry vegetation.
Inspect slopes for increases in cracks, holes and other changes.
Build away from steep slopes, bottoms/mouths of steep ravines and drainage facilities.
Consult with a soil engineer or an engineering geologist to minimize the potential impacts of landslides.
When it rains:
Take Action
Take steps to protect your home by anticipating runoff and placing sandbags in areas as needed. Board up windows and doors as needed.
Prepare to evacuate, in case your local officials instruct you to do so.
Monitor
Monitor the amount of rain during intense storms. More than three to four inches of rain per day, or ½-inch per hour, have been known to trigger mudslides.
Look for geological changes near your home, such as cracked soil, bulging slopes, new holes on hillsides, or muddy waters.
Stay Informed
Listen to the radio or watch television for information and instructions from your local officials.
For more information on how you can be prepared before, during, and after a landslide, click HERE.
POWER OUTAGES
You can reduce the potential impacts of a long-lasting power outage by doing the following:
Before a Power Outage
Identify which items you may need that rely on electrical power. Then, plan for extra batteries and other ways you can to meet your needs when the power goes out.
Talk to your medical provider about a power outage plan for disability medical devices powered by electricity and refrigerated medications. Find out how long medications can be stored at higher temperatures and get specific guidance for any medications that are critical for life.
Check your local weather forecast regularly by visiting the National Weather Service. Also, make it a habit to watch news reports so that you’re aware when there will be weather conditions that could cause a power outage, such as a heat wave or heavy rains.
Determine whether your home telephone will work in a power outage and how long battery backup will last.
Take stock of your disaster supplies that are available in case of a power outage. Have flashlights with extra batteries for every household member. Have enough nonperishable food and water, as well as medications.
Use a thermometer in the refrigerator and freezer so that you can know the temperature when the power is restored. Throw out food if the temperature is 40 degrees or higher.
Keep mobile phones, recharging devices and other equipment fully charged.
During a Power Outage:
Keep freezers and refrigerators closed. A refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours. A full freezer will keep its temperature for about 48 hours. Use coolers with ice if necessary.
Monitor temperatures in your freezer and refrigerator with a thermometer.
Have food supplies that don’t require refrigeration available for you and your family.
Create plans for refrigerating medicines or using power-dependent medical devices.
Never use a gas stovetop or oven to heat your home.
Check on your neighbors. Older adults and young children are especially vulnerable to extreme temperatures.
When in doubt, throw it out. Throw away any food that has been exposed to temperatures 40 degrees or higher for two hours or more, or that has an unusual odor, color, or texture.
If the power is out for more than a day, discard any medication that should be refrigerated, unless the medical instruction label says otherwise. If a life depends on the refrigerated medications, contact and consult a doctor or pharmacist and use medicine only until a new supply is available.
ADDITIONAL TRAININGS
READY YOUR LA NEIGHBORHOOD (RYLAN)
The Ready Your LA Neighborhood Workshop provides the tools to prepare and organize your neighborhood to respond together in that first hour after a disaster to reduce injuries, protect your property and the environment, and most importantly, to save lives.
This free workshop is 90 minutes or less and can be held virtually or in person.
EMD will provide the material needed for you to run this workshop with your closest neighbors. Depending on the size of your area, this may mean your full apartment building or just your closest 5-7 houses.
You may choose to facilitate the workshop yourself, or EMD staff can do so upon request.
To request a Ready Your LA Neighborhood workshop, click HERE.
LAFD FREE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS TRAINING
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program is an all-hazard training program. This valuable course is designed to help you protect yourself, your family, and your neighbors.
CERT is provided free of charge within the city of Los Angeles to anyone 18 or over. Classes are taught year-round, Monday-Friday, morning, afternoon, or evening. All Classes are instructed by an experienced LAFD Firefighter.
To sign up for a free class in your area, click HERE.
To learn more about CERT and other free LAFD disaster preparedness trainings, click HERE.
