Fifth District Councilmember Gerrie Schipske will host a “Let’s Get Ready, Long Beach” Emergency Preparedness Roundtable to discuss what needs to be done to get ready in Long Beach for a large earthquake. The event will be Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 6:30pm at the Long Beach Gas & Oil Department, 2400 E. Spring St., in coordination with the Great California ShakeOut.
Representatives from the Long Beach Police Department, Long Beach Fire Department, Long Beach Health Department, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), Animal Care Services, American Red Cross, Long Beach Unified School District, and the Disabled Resources Center will explore the community’s state of readiness, what their neighbors are doing to prepare, and more.
“We cannot expect to have emergency responders available to respond to all of our neighborhoods after a major earthquake, because they will be focused on large-scale rescue efforts. We have to know how to work together and be able to survive for days,” Schipske said. “Let’s Get Ready, Long Beach will give residents an opportunity to learn what to expect and ask experts how to prepare for such a huge disaster, as well as how we can work together to make it through ‘The Big One.'”
Schipske has sponsored events in past years in connection the Great California ShakeOut, which provides an opportunity to practice how to be safer during big earthquakes. The ShakeOut has also been organized to encourage residents to review and update emergency preparedness plans and supplies, and to secure space in order to prevent damage and injuries. According to experts, California has a 99.7 percent chance of being devastated by a 6.7 earthquake or higher within the next 30 years. Many believe the southern portion of the San Andreas Fault would produce a magnitude 7.5 or greater if the “Big One” hits Southern California.
“Take time to attend this event on October 10 and let’s get ready for the inevitable earthquake,” Schipske said.
More Information
shakeout.org/california/howtoparticipate
daretoprepare.org
