Reminder for Angeleños on Importance of Disaster Preparedness
LOS ANGELES, July 5, 2019— The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region has opened a shelter at the Kerr McGee Community Center at 100 W California Avenue in Ridgecrest in response to yesterday’s 6.4M earthquake and is currently providing service to 4 residents, with 28 residents in the shelter overnight.
Red Cross volunteers are providing comfort and care to those who have been affected. Comfort and care can take many different shapes and sizes — it’s as simple as being able to provide safe shelter, warm meals and emotional support. The Red Cross shelter will remain open as long as it is needed to assist families affected by the earthquake who need a safe place to stay, have a meal and shower and a shoulder to lean on.
Yesterday’s earthquake serves as a reminder to Angeleños on the importance of being prepared for disasters big and small. Getting prepared is easier than you may think. Your family can prepare by taking three simple actions:
GET A KIT. Your emergency kit should contain supplies for at least three days, including a gallon of water per person per day, non-perishable food, a flashlight and extra batteries, a first aid kit, medications and copies of important documents. Don’t forget to grab items, such as diapers, for young children, and any supplies for family members with special medical needs. See full details here.
MAKE A PLAN. Make sure to plan what to do in case you are separated from your family during an emergency and what to do if you have to evacuate. Coordinate your plan with your child’s school, your work and your community’s emergency plans.
Include your pets in your emergency plans. Remember, if you and your family need to evacuate, so does your pet. It’s important to plan in advance to know which pet-friendly hotels are in your area, and where your pets can stay in an emergency situation. Find full details and easy-to-use plan templates here.
BE INFORMED. Be informed about what disasters or emergencies may occur where you live, work and play, and how to respond as safely as possible. Find out how local officials will contact you during a disaster and how you will get important information. Take a first aid, CPR and AED course, so you’ll know what to do in case help is delayed. Learn how to get fully informed about emergencies here.
For more information and preparedness tips, visit redcross.org/prepare.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/la or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA or @CruzRojaLA.
