Disaster Preparedness

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications encourages residents to participate in Tsunami Preparedness Week, taking place March 21 through 25, to learn about tsunamis and how to prepare for them. Educational tsunami preparedness tips will be shared through the City’s Disaster Preparedness website, City social media platforms and outreach materials to local business associations. Residents will also have a chance to win a “go-kit” by answering disaster preparedness questions on Facebook and Instagram.

“I want to encourage everyone who lives, works, or visits our City to participate in Tsunami Preparedness Week,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “It’s important that our residents recognize tsunami warning signs and learn how to keep themselves and their families safe.”

The Tonga volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami advisory that occurred earlier this year served as an important reminder that tsunamis are a real threat to Long Beach and the entire southern California coastal area. Large earthquakes that occur below or near the ocean floor are the most common cause of tsunamis, but underwater landslides and volcanic activity can also cause them.

It is important for residents, especially those who live along or near the coast, to be knowledgeable about the different types of tsunami alerts, such as watches, advisories and warnings, so that people can be prepared to take quick and effective action if a tsunami warning were to be issued. Residents can also find out if they live in the inundation/flood zone and plan an evacuation route by visiting MyHazards, which allows users to learn what natural hazards are possible in their area by typing in their home or business address.

“Residents who participate in readiness activities like those available during Tsunami Preparedness Week are not only more educated on tsunamis, they also make their household more resilient,” said Reggie Harrison, Director of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications. “Every person who practices preparedness helps our City respond and recover more quickly from a disaster.”

To participate in Tsunami Preparedness Week, residents can also:

• Stay Alert - Sign up for Alert Long Beach, the City’s emergency notification system, at alertlongbeach.com. Residents living in the inundation/flood zone will receive a tsunami test notification during Tsunami Preparedness Week.
• Get informed - Read the Tsunami Preparedness Guide, which includes evacuation routes, available in English and Spanish.
• Practice your plan - Practice a family emergency plan and learn basic emergency medical procedures.
• Prepare a go-bag - Residents should have a go-bag ready to evacuate when the need arises. The bag should contain essential items necessary for each family member and pets to be safe, comfortable and self-sustaining for up to five days.
• Share the news - Residents are encouraged to share tsunami preparedness educational content that will be posted on the Department’s social media channels at @lbdisasterprep.

The Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications will also conduct a briefing during Tsunami Preparedness Week with community partner organizations, including the Red Cross, Long Beach Transit, local hospitals and schools, to discuss tsunami and other disaster preparedness plans.

Last year, the California Geological Survey (CGS) used new research and technology to update tsunami inundation zone maps that demonstrate the potential inundation/flood zones for the California coastline. These maps should be used to learn about possible inundation zones in the area.

To learn more about tsunamis and other disaster preparedness topics, residents can visit the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications website or follow @LBDisasterPrep on Facebook and Instagram.