Local officials are urging residents of our county to prepare now for natural disasters and other emergencies.

Earthquakes, fires and other natural disasters can affect many people over a wide area, but even a train derailment or plane crash can knock down power lines in a smaller area, creating blackouts, blocking streets, spreading hazardous materials, and making it difficult for repair crews to restore power for several days. 

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So instead of hoping for the best, Santa Clarita residents are being urged to take action now to help themselves and their loved ones when disaster hits.

“People should have enough items to live for 72 hours,” said Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Brian Riley. That means having three days worth of food, water, medications, and personal items for every member of your family. “It would be nice to have a generator to be able to power up some of your appliances,” added Riley.” At a minimum, each home should have a flashlight with fresh batteries and a backup battery or power supply for cell phones.

And when disaster does hit, Riley says it is imperative to follow the directions of local authorities. “You see on the news where people are fighting a wildfire with a garden hose, but that really doesn’t work.” Instead, residents are advised to discuss emergency procedures and rallying points with their families and always heed official directives.

According to Riley, homeowners who prepare in advance have the best chance of seeing their property come through a disaster in good shape. “Have the proper brush clearance. Know how to shut off your gas.”

County residents can sign up to receive emergency emails and text alerts from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department at http://portal.lacounty.gov/wps/portal/alertla.

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