PRESS RELEASE

Long Beach, CA – The City of Long Beach Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications (Department) 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.

“The tragic fire in Maui and the impacts of Tropical Storm Hilary are important reminders that disasters can strike swiftly at any time,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “Long Beach residents should take this opportunity to learn more about the hazards that can affect them and create plans to be better prepared.”

Resiliency is core to the City’s disaster preparedness efforts and is accomplished through the community’s ability to use available resources and training to respond to and recover from disasters. The City will center this year’s National Preparedness Month outreach campaign on older adults and people with disabilities, as those community members are affected disproportionately when disaster strikes. Outreach, information and resources will be made accessible and available to all residents and community organizations consistent with the City’s “whole community” approach to disaster preparedness.

Throughout the month of September, community members are invited to participate in the following National Preparedness Month activities including:

• Attend the Ready Long Beach Community Preparedness Expo on Saturday, Sept. 9, at the California State University, Long Beach campus. This event is the largest community preparedness event in Southern California and is free to the public.
• Join the Department at a pop-up event to speak with Disaster Preparedness staff and receive informational materials and resources. Pop up events will take place at various locations. Details on the pop ups will be shared on social media throughout September.
• Follow the Department on Facebook and Instagram at @LBDisasterPrep. An educational and interactive social media campaign will run all month long and will include disaster preparedness tips, interviews with residents, and a question-and-answer session that will allow participants to receive disaster preparedness items.

The Department will also conduct focused outreach to local organizations and facilities that provide supportive services to vulnerable populations including the Gray Panthers, the Long Beach Senior Center, Long Beach Disabled Resources Center, Meals on Wheels, and older adult living facilities, in effort to ensure these organizations are educated and well prepared in the event of a disaster.

“Earthquakes continue to be the City’s most probable disaster, but extreme weather conditions, like Tropical Storm Hilary, severely impact communities throughout the region and in Long Beach,” said Reggie Harrison, Director of the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications Department. “Major emergencies or disasters are traumatic and frightening events especially for older adults and those with limited mobility”.

Residents are encouraged to stay alert by signing up to receive emergency notifications from Alert Long Beach; be self-sufficient for up to seven days following a disaster by making a “go-kit” with items that are both essential and comforting like medicine or special dietary products; designate and practice an emergency plan; and learn lifesaving skills such as basic emergency medical procedures, CPR and first aid techniques.

About the City of Long Beach 
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Watch us on LBTV. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. For more information about the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications, visit longbeach.gov/disasterpreparedness.