Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Communications

City of Long Beach Announces New Mass Evacuation and Shelter-In-Place Plan 10/31/2024 As part of the City of Long Beach’s ongoing efforts to enhance emergency preparedness for the community, the City announced the development of its first ever standalone Mass Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place Plan. The new plan will expand upon existing emergency preparedness and response plans to safeguard residents’ safety, health and wellbeing during and after an emergency or natural disaster. As part of the plan’s development, led by the City’s Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications, community members are encouraged to share their knowledge of local hazards through a public survey, available online and in person now through Nov. 30, 2024.

City Provides Tips to Prepare for an Earthquake 8/16/2024 The recent earthquakes in nearby El Sereno and Hyland Park as well as in the Kern County community of Lamont serve as reminders that we must be prepared for the region’s most probable natural disaster. Earthquakes can happen at any time, anywhere and without warning, and the City of Long Beach Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications is advising residents to follow the precautions listed below to prepare for an earthquake at work, school or home. 

City of Long Beach Recognizing Pet Preparedness Month Throughout June 6/1/2024 In recognition of National Pet Preparedness Month this June, the City of Long Beach is providing residents with a variety of educational resources, tips and tools about how pets fit into family disaster planning to help address the challenges families and their pets may face during an emergency. Residents are encouraged to include their pets in family emergency plans and disaster kits.  

California Tsunami Week 2024 3/23/2024 California’s Tsunami Preparedness Week is observed March 23-31, 2024, and the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications is encouraging residents to get informed, learn the warning signs of a tsunami, and develop and practice evacuation plans for their families, home and workplace.

Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill: Don’t Wait, Participate! 10/17/2023 The City of Long Beach Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications encourages residents to participate in the annual Great ShakeOut earthquake drill taking place this year on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, at 10:19 a.m. International ShakeOut Day is annually recognized across the globe on the third Thursday in October. It is estimated that more than 45 million people participated in this earthquake safety drill worldwide last year.

Are You Prepared for a Disaster? 9/1/2023 Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications will recognize National Preparedness Month throughout the month of September to promote personal, household and community preparedness. In alignment with FEMA’s 2023 theme, “Helping Older Adults Prepare for Disaster,” this year, the City will focus on preparing older adults and people with disabilities, especially those who are living alone, low income or isolated from supportive services.

Long Beach Emergency Communications Center Launches “Help Us Help You” Campaign 8/2/2023 Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications, responsible for the delivery of the City’s Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services, is launching their “Help Us Help You” campaign to reduce the number of non-emergency calls answered by 9-1-1 Dispatchers. Through the educational campaign, the City encourages residents to “‘Help Us’ reduce the number of non-emergency calls answered by 9-1-1 dispatchers, so the City can ‘Help You’ by more quickly answering and responding to emergency calls for service.”

Kick Off Summer with Pet Preparedness Month 6/1/2023 The City of Long Beach is recognizing National Pet Preparedness Month this June by hosting a variety of pet adoption and community engagement events that will offer residents educational resources and tools to help address challenges families and their pets may face during an emergency and encourage residents to include their four-legged friends in their family preparedness plans and disaster kits.

City of Long Beach Recognizes Tsunami Awareness Week March 27 through 31 3/22/2023 The City of Long Beach Department of Disaster Preparedness invites community members to participate in Tsunami Awareness Week events and activities, taking place Monday, March 27 through Friday, March 31, 2023, to learn how to prepare for a tsunami. Residents are encouraged to get informed, learn the warning signs of a tsunami and develop and practice an evacuation plan at home and place of work.

Residents Encouraged to Participate in the Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill 10/17/2022 The City of Long Beach encourages residents to participate in the Great ShakeOut, an annual earthquake drill, taking place at 10:20 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 20. Originally named the Great California Earthquake Drill, this earthquake safety drill is now practiced around the world with more than 40 million participants last year.

City Seeks Community Input on Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan 9/16/2022 The City of Long Beach Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications is inviting residents to participate in the review of the City’s Draft Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan. Residents can review the draft plan and provide comments online or in-person at all Long Beach Public Library locations, now through Oct. 16, 2022.

Long Beach Recognizes National Preparedness Month this September 8/29/2022 The City of Long Beach Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications is recognizing National Preparedness Month with a series of educational community outreach opportunities throughout the month of September. National Preparedness Month, observed each September, promotes family and community emergency preparedness and raises awareness about the importance of preparing for disasters and emergencies that could happen at any time.  

June is Pet Preparedness Month 6/10/2022 June is Pet Preparedness Month, and the City of Long Beach Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications is reminding residents that natural disasters affect the whole family, including furry friends. Pet Preparedness Month encourages residents to incorporate the wellness of their pets in family emergency plans.

Long Beach 9-1-1 Connecting Residents to Non-Emergency Services Faster  5/3/2022 The City of Long Beach 9-1-1 Communications Center is implementing a non-emergency phone tree that will connect callers directly to a pre-recorded list of commonly requested non-emergency City services, providing dispatchers with additional time to assist residents requiring immediate police, fire or emergency medical services. The phone tree will alleviate the inundation of non-emergency calls to dispatchers, while providing non-emergency callers with a more streamlined experience to access services.

Tsunami Preparedness Week: Are You in the Zone? 3/18/2022 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.

Public Invited to Participate in City’s 2022 Hazard Mitigation Plan Update 3/3/2022 The City of Long Beach is inviting members of the public to participate in the development of the City’s updated Hazard Mitigation Plan. Residents are encouraged to share their knowledge of local hazards through a public survey, available online and in-person at all Long Beach Public Library locations, now through March 31, 2022.

Area Code Required on All 562 Calls Starting October 24 10/21/2021 Long Beach, CA - All calls within the 562 area code will require dialing a full 10-digit telephone number beginning October 24, 2021. (Spanish) (Khmer)

Long Beach Community Stays Prepared with Great ShakeOut 10/14/2021 Long Beach’s Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications is encouraging all residents to take part in the annual Great ShakeOut Earthquake Drill happening at 10:21 a.m. Thursday, October 21. The disaster drill is an opportunity for the public to prepare and practice what to do in the event of a major earthquake. 

Long Beach Marks National Preparedness Month by Encouraging Residents to Plan Ahead 8/30/2021 September is National Preparedness Month, and while the City continues to mitigate the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications (DPEC) is reminding residents that other types of emergencies such as earthquakes, floods and tsunamis can happen at any time. 

First Responders Work Together to Reduce Use of Force Through Integrated Medical Intervention Response Pilot Program 8/20/2021 The Long Beach Police Department, Long Beach Fire Department and Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications have come together to implement an Integrated Medical Intervention Response pilot program. The collaborative program is designed to reduce use of force incidents by providing medical assistance on calls for service involving agitated, combative or violent individuals.

Prepare Your Pet for Emergencies 6/2/2021 June is Pet Preparedness Month, and the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications is encouraging pet owners to include their four-legged friends in emergency planning through a variety of preparedness tips, community outreach and educational activities. Additionally, in collaboration with the City’s Animal Care Services, pet adoptions that occur during the month of June will receive free pet emergency preparedness kits.

Tsunami Preparedness Week 2021: Plan Your Evacuation Route 3/18/2021 Long Beach, CA - Even in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the City of Long Beach Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications encourages residents to participate in Tsunami Preparedness Week, March 22 through 26, with several virtual activities to educate community members on how to prepare for a tsunami and other emergencies.
(Spanish)   (Khmer)  (Tagalog)

Long Beach Celebrates Pet Preparedness Month in June 5/29/2018 The City of Long Beach will celebrate Pet Preparedness Month throughout the month of June with a variety of outreach and educational activities for pet owners. Pet Preparedness Month encourages residents to incorporate the needs of their pets in family emergency plans, including providing pet supplies in emergency go-kits and registering pets with Long Beach Animal Care Services so they can be more easily identified if they are separated from the family during a disaster. 

Tsunami Awareness Week Evolves Into a Preparedness Month 2/27/2018 Tsunami Preparedness Week is March 26 to 30, 2018 and the City of Long Beach will be hosting events and activities throughout the month to educate residents on actions they can take to prepare for and respond to a tsunami.

City Cautions Residents to Prepare for Severe Weather 1/8/2018  

City of Long Beach Launches Text to 9-1-1 Service on December 1 11/30/2017 Beginning December1, 2017, hearing and speech-impaired residents of Long Beach and those in situations where it is too dangerous to dial 9-1-1 for help in an emergency, can Text to 9-1-1. “Call if you can -- text if you can’t” is the slogan developed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), that is currently being utilized by Long Beach and other cities in Southern California that are implementing this new technology.