PRESS RELEASE

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.

“Everyone should familiarize themselves with the signs of an impending tsunami and know how to move quickly to safety zones in higher ground,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “All residents who live, work or visit our coastline are encouraged to participate in Tsunami Preparedness Week activities with their family.”

Tsunamis, unlike earthquakes, have triggering events that provide warning before they strike. The occurrence of a distant or near-source earthquake is one of the first natural warning signs of a possible tsunami. A loud roar and the retreating of ocean water are additional warning signs. As a tsunami travels from the deep ocean and reaches shallow beach areas, it produces a vacuum effect and a loud roar as it sucks coastal waters seaward, exposing the ocean floor.

“When a tsunami is imminent, residents can generally reduce the likelihood of injury by quickly moving to higher ground or inland,” said Reggie Harrison, Director of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications. “Tsunamis are actually a series of waves, and the first wave might not be the largest, which is why residents should move quickly to higher grounds by means other than a car to avoid congesting the roadway.”

To participate in Tsunami Preparedness Week, residents are encouraged to:

• 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 on the Department’s webpage in English and Spanish. Residents can then practice their own Tsunami evacuation route to higher ground as a family unit and in compliance with COVID-19 Health Orders.
• 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 individual and their family to feel safe, comfortable and be 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 will also be conducting a virtual briefing with community partners, including the Red Cross, Long Beach Transit, and local hospitals and schools, to discuss tsunami and other disaster preparedness plans.

The California Geological Survey (CGS) announced it will distribute updated maps of the inundation/flood zones for the California coastline during Tsunami Week. They have indicated that changes to the current Long Beach map are minimal. The updated maps can be downloaded from the CGS or City of Long Beach websites once they become available.

Additional information on tsunamis and other disaster preparedness topics can be found at longbeach.gov/DisasterPreparedness.

About the City of Long Beach
Home to approximately 470,000 people, the multiple award-winning and innovative City of Long Beach offers all the world-class amenities of a large metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods nestled together along the California coast. As a full-service charter city, Long Beach is home to the Queen Mary, Aquarium of the Pacific, several museums and theaters, a highly-rated school district, Long Beach Airport, the Port of Long Beach, as well as many award-winning City departments such as Health, Parks, Recreation and Marine, Development Services and more. The City also has a highly-respected university and city college, two historic ranchos, five hospitals, five golf courses, 171 parks, miles of beaches, marinas, bike paths, and a Bike Share program.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit www.longbeach.gov. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

About Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications
The mission of the Department of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications is to protect the lives and property of the community and first responders through comprehensive planning, training and communication to ensure that daily requests for emergency services, as well as preparedness, response, and recovery from major emergencies and disasters is completed in an effective and efficient manner.

To stay tuned to disaster preparedness news and information, follow us on Twitter at @LongBeachReady and Instagram at @longbeachdprep or “Like” us on Facebook at @LongBeachDisasterPreparedness.