Saturday, May 2, 2015

Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management Reminds Altadenans to Prepare for the Big One

The Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management reminds Altadenans who have been thinking about major earthquakes lately in the wake Nepal’s tumbler to consider that event a wake-up call to get prepared for what, inevitably, will happen here.

(After all, those mountains didn’t just happen, without earthquakes accompanying their birth.)

The agency on Tuesday provided the following tips on what to do during an earthquake:

– When you are in public places, be aware of your surroundings and identify your safe spaces.

– If you experience shaking, the recommended actions are to drop under a piece of furniture. Take cover under the piece of furniture by protecting your head and neck with one arm/hand. Hold on to the piece of furniture’s leg to keep it from shifting or uncovering you until the shaking completely stops. Learn more at DropCoverHoldOn.org.

– Do not run out of buildings during an earthquake as most people are injured by falling debris as they try to exit buildings during the shaking.

– If you experience shaking and are in a wheelchair, lock your wheels; cover your head and neck area with a pillow or some type of object that will deflect the debris from falling onto you.

– To receive emergency notifications, register your cellphone and landlines at Alert LA County, found atlacounty.gov/emergency/alert-la.