Here's How To Prepare For Emergencies, Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA, CA -- Wildfires are tearing through Southern California, destroying homes, and burning down everything in its path, so getting prepared is becoming increasingly important. As residents navigate the impacts of the fires across the Southland, the City of Santa Monica is urging residents and visitors to closely monitor updates and avoid fire areas to allow emergency personnel the access they need.

"The safety of Santa Monican residents, visitors and staff is our top priority,” said Katie Lichtig, Assistant City Manager for City of Santa Monica. “Our main concern for Santa Monicans at this time is air quality. We are monitoring air quality reports closely and recommend that individuals reduce outdoor activity.”

Santa Monica firefighters were deployed overnight until early morning Thursday conducting a safety patrol and monitoring for fire and embers with the increased winds and the unconstrained Skirball Fire. This was a preventative measure and it’s important that residents stay vigilant and take measures to dispose of combustible material around their homes and stay alert of the current conditions, according to the city.

There are some vital steps that should be taken care of as soon as possible, including: preparing your home, building a supply kid, and forging a plan with friends and family. The City also urges residents to sign up for SM Alerts in order to be aware of major updates.

Ready-Set-Go

1. Ready: disposing of combustible material around your home and trimming trees and bushes.
2. Set: preparation measures such as putting together a “Go-Kit” (medication, documents, supplies), creating an action plan with family and neighbors, including practice exit plans, and signing up for emergency notifications and alerts via social media.
3. Go: means go. Get your Go-Kit and leave well before the threat approaches. Stay aware of the situation and stick to your plan. Cooperate with local authorities, including the re-entry process.

Evacuation

In the event of an evacuation, the City of Santa Monica will initiate a SM Alert to all residents and businesses in the impacted area; this evacuation message would go out to landlines that are registered in public records as well as all cell phones and e-mail addresses that are registered with SMAlerts, Santa Monica’s mass notification system. Residents and businesses may also register for Public Safety notices that provide situational awareness on immediate safety concerns in our community; public Safety notices have currently been used throughout the wildfire incidents to notify the Santa Monica public about local cancellations, weather-related hazards, and traffic information, according to the city.

If there was an imminent threat and evacuation is mandatory, law enforcement would notify all residents similar to the efforts seen in the current wildfire evacuations across the region, according to the city.

Downed trees, power lines, and power outages are a possibility. To report downed trees or fallen limbs in the public right of way, contact the Public Landscape Division at 310-458-8974. Contact Southern California Edison for power line or outage issues.

In case of an emergency where shelters are needed, the City of Santa Monica Emergency Operations Center would coordinate with the American Red Cross and other community partners on suitable evacuation shelter locations based on the situation. Residents will receive this information through social media, SMAlerts, local media, and the City’s website.

Helpful Links:

• Register for SM Alerts
• Read, Set, Go! Guide
• City of Santa Monica website
• City of Santa Monica Twitter

To read more about the city's strategy in case of an emergency, click here.