Behind the Badge: Are you prepared for an emergency?

By Behind the Badge staff

When disaster strikes, are you prepared? For an earthquake? For a landslide? For a fire?

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Or a chemical leak?

The Memorial Day weekend hazardous materials scare in Garden Grove involving the unprecedented threat of a chemical tank explosion has left Orange County residents feeling vulnerable. While experts tried to get a handle on the situation, authorities ordered massive evacuations that affected an estimated 50,000 people across multiple cities. The scenario has highlighted the continual need for emergency preparedness and clear communication channels for residents and businesses.

Thankfully for Orange County residents, ReadyOC is standing by with both. ReadyOC, a federally funded public outreach effort, helps people prepare for emergency situations. In Orange County, that typically includes earthquakes, landslides, floods and fires. ReadyOC seeks to empower residents with the tools they need to be prepared for those situations and more.

ReadyOC is funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and administered locally by the Santa Ana and Anaheim police departments in conjunction with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.

ReadyOC is connected as connected gets when it comes to emergency situations. Guided by a team of experts, the website offers resources available for just about every type of disaster possible in nearly every type of place they can happen for every demographic affected.

On ReadyOC’s website, you can find:

oEmergency plans for residences, businesses and schools

oHow college students, seniors and those with disabilities can be prepared

oWhat if disaster strikes on vacation? What can tourists do?

oAnd don’t forget your pets!

The chemical plant incident in Garden Grove underscores the necessity of being ready for emergencies at all times. They truly can happen anywhere, anytime. Many in Orange County are accustomed to common, even yearly incidents like wildfires. The most emergency savvy may have go-bags of essentials they can carry in case wildfires threaten their homes and smoke fills the air.

But what about places where wildfires aren’t likely, like urban Garden Grove? How can those residents and businesses be prepared?

When emergency strikes, turning to official communications is best. Social media is often full of personal opinions or other forms of misinformation. Following official accounts like those belonging to police departments and the Orange County Fire Authority or ReadyOC can steer residents in the right direction when the worst happens.

ReadyOC maintains a mass notification system that works hand in hand with AlertOC. These systems are designed to keep everyone informed, whether through text messages, email or TTY devices. Signing up is easy at ReadyOC.com.

In addition, be sure to have a plan and an emergency, grab-and-go kit (even in your car!).

When should you, your family or business evacuate? That can be hard to determine even for officials, but when they do pass down the word, it’s best to heed the warning for mandatory evacuations or shelter-in-place guidance. When orders are issued (and sometimes they are actively enforced by police), ReadyOC.com and local public officials can help direct you to the nearest evacuation site.

In the most recent Garden Grove case, ReadyOC provided direction on evacuation sites and directed calls to the public hotline: (714) 628-7085.

When asking the all-important question for yourself — are you prepared? — ReadyOC can be a pivotal stop in your journey toward emergency preparedness.

Residents can also sign up for the ReadyOC newsletter and the SafeOC newsletter to receive local updates, public safety alerts, and tips on how to prepare.

For more, visit BehindtheBadge.com.