CARLETON CRONIN: You probably missed it …. so did the city

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For years, September has been Disaster Preparedness Month, largely ignored by most of us, with minimal concern shown by our city.

As usual, the city sent out an email memo advising us to “prepare” and “make a plan.” If you’re not on that email list, perhaps you read about the month’s designation in the *LA Times* or the *La Brea Press*. Or maybe you didn’t see it at all, if no notice appeared on social media. For all practical purposes, National Emergency Preparedness Month has come and gone once more with only the barest notice. Yet, among other potential threats, we in Los Angeles County live in an active earthquake zone and on the edge of potentially major disaster. Although experts continue to warn us and first responders drill to maintain their skills, we citizens remain drowsy. Even Lalo Alcaraz’s great comic strip *La Cucaracha* (*LA Times*) asks, “Eddie, do you think we are getting too jaded about earthquakes?” as a tremor blurs one panel of the strip.

Well, I am not yet jaded on the subject, and I have some questions for the city about how it is prepared for an earthquake — or any event that could be called a disaster — and, importantly, what the city can do for us residents when a disaster strikes.

Somewhere in the maze of cubicles at City Hall, there’s a person who is our emergency management guru. As far as I can tell, he’s been keeping a lot of information to himself. Here are some subjects I’d like him to share with us residents.

– What is the latest hazard assessment for West Hollywood regarding earthquakes, floods, fires, and civil disorder? Do you have maps to aid us?
– Has the city prepared temporary shelter for residents displaced by disaster? For instance, FEMA and the NFL have a plan to use football stadiums as shelters during a disaster.
– Are the shelters stocked with water and emergency food?
– Where can we find a copy of the city’s disaster response and recovery plan?
– Tell us about the Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Is the Incident Commander a resident able to respond 24/7? Does he have FEMA training?
– Is there an EOC component to handle trained (CERT) volunteer responders as well as convergent responders?
– Much of WeHo was once classified as a flood zone. Is any part of the city still a flood zone?
– Where in the city is liquefaction a problem?
– In case of a mass evacuation, which streets are most likely to be evacuation routes? Are they currently marked with signs?
– Will the city have a method of assisting seniors and disabled residents to places of safety?
– What outreach plans do you have to instruct residents about disaster preparedness and recovery?
– Will there be a central check-in process to track unaccounted-for residents?
– What about displaced family pets?
– What are the plans for general civil order and security with the Sheriff’s department?
– Is there a civil disorder component to the City Emergency Response Plan?
– Are there any agreements with local hospitals for emergency field care? Is the Red Cross the most likely resource for medical care?
– Most important — what are the means, besides emails, used by the city to inform us of the city’s readiness after a disaster? At one time, two former air raid sirens on towers were at West Hollywood and Plummer parks. A great, simple way to alert a large area.

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It might be simpler if the city made ongoing outreach efforts, not just a September email, to prepare us for the inevitable difficulties of managing through a disaster. The city owes us a lot of help in preparing.

 

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About Carleton Cronin
Carleton Cronin and his wife, Toby Ann, have lived in West Hollywood since 1974. They have raised four sons here, and Cronin has long been an astute observer of civic life. Carleton publishes the blog crobarcogito.blogspot.com

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Brad Keistler
Brad Keistler
30 days ago

Lots of good questions. Maybe all the answers could be published as soon as is possible.

Emergency Planning
Emergency Planning
30 days ago

While Carlton’s comments and concerns are well taken, please know that the City conducted two three-hour Red Cross certified first aid/CPR/AED classes on October 5, with 30 individuals enrolled in each class. Additionally, on October 22 there will be a gathering of individuals who have been certified in the city’s CERT (community emergency response team) training program. More is needed. Everyone who can should take these classes. More are available through the Red Cross and many other resources. Also, for those who have some emergency supplies but wonder what they would do if they have to evacuate, Costco and others… Read more »

Reading Rainbow
Reading Rainbow
30 days ago

Prepare to fix the City Council disaster by voting on Nov 5th.

Morty
Morty
30 days ago

Good points made here. I actually think the city should publish and mail out a guide for emergency preparedness that addresses most of these questions. We send out voting guides every election so why not emergency preparedness guides for people to keep in case of an earthquake or emergency? We take these things for granted. One day it’s going to happen and we will not be prepared for it.

Steve Martin
Steve Martin
30 days ago

Carl, many of us spent Disaster Preparedness Month warning people to get ready for the Fountain Avenue “Re-Design”, which will be the largest man-made disaster in the history of West Hollywood. Be prepared for gridlock and emergency providers being trapped in traffic. It is not just the loss of 150 parking spaces; Mayor Erickson’s pet project will have all sorts of unanticipated impacts on the lives of the residents.