Notations On Our World (Special Friday Edition): On Being Prepared....

As our State has been witness to two major fires our team reported on earlier in the week,  we wanted to report on this courtesy of Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett's Office which we hope to turn into a Emergency Preparedness Portal repository in the future as we can plan ahead and be ready because We Can!

The 2007 Santiago Fire as seen from Mission Viejo.

It is evident from recent natural disasters that being prepared is something we should all be proactive about, especially with September being National Preparedness Month. October 21, 2017also serves to remind us to be ready in the event of a major emergency, as it marks the 10th anniversary of the Santiago Firethat burned over 28,000 acres in Orange County in 2007.

Flooding in Laguna takes out Main Beach.

We can all agree South County is a wonderful place to live, work, and play, but the beauty of our area can easily distract us from the reality that a disaster can arise at a moment’s notice. While we are blessed to live in one of the greatest regions in the world, Southern California is susceptible to some of the most damaging natural disasters, including wildfires, earthquakes, storms, flooding, and even tsunamis.

Bluebird Canyon landslide in Laguna Beach.

We all know how devastating these disasters can be, but few of us have taken the necessary precautions to ensure we are prepared for a major emergency. Thankfully, there are simple steps we can all take to be prepared. It’s as easy as counting to three: Get a Kit, Make a Plan, and Be Informed!

Get a Kit The first step you can take is to assemble an Emergency Kit for your home, work, and car. You never know when a disaster will strike, so it’s crucial you are prepared regardless of where you are. Acquiring an emergency kit can be as easy as purchasing a prepackaged kit online, or as interactive as making a family game to compile important supplies into an old school backpack. Please note that when getting supplies together, it's best to think about the basics for survival, including water, food, a first aid kit, and other necessities. For a full list of supplies to include in a kit and other useful tips, visit www.readyoc.org.

Make a Plan Once you have created an emergency kit, it’s essential your family makes a plan. Questions to ask include: If there was a major earthquake, how will I get in touch with my family? How will I get home? These sound like simple questions, but in a disaster or emergency, it’s easy to get wrapped up in the moment and not be able to think clearly, so sitting down with your loved ones to make a plan is very important. Again, www.ready.gov is another resource to help you make a comprehensive plan.

Be Informed In times of emergency, information is crucial. Luckily in Orange County we have Alert OC, which is a mass notification system that keeps residents informed of emergencies and other important events. If you haven’t done so already, I strongly encourage you and your family to sign up for Alert OC at www.AlertOC.comtoday.