Earthquake Preparedness

Before An Emergency Strikes

In La Quinta, our major emergency and disaster incidents can include earthquake, flash flooding, prolonged power outages, mass casualty incidents, public health emergencies, and impacts from southern California terrorism. Any of these incidents can leave families and individuals isolated and without power, water, or transportation.

We recommend that you visit www.la-quinta.org/lqprep to find out more about individual, family, neighborhood, and business preparedness. By preparing to help each other after a major emergency, we can all do our part to be survivors and help the community recover faster.

Creating Your Family and Neighborhood Emergency Plans

Emergencies may strike when your family members are away from home, so find out about plans at your workplace, school, or day location. After creating a household and neighborhood emergency plan you should take the time to review it with your family and neighbors every six months. Plans should include:

 Meet with household members and discuss the dangers and your response to possible emergency events  Teach adults how to turn off the water, gas, and electricity at main switches  Designate an out-of-state contact that all family members will call if separated  Learn how to use fire extinguishers and first aid supplies  Have a battery powered or hand crank AM/FM radio or TV  Pick a meeting place, where your family and others in the neighborhood can meet and count heads to see who may need to be checked up on after an earthquake or major emergency  Take a Basic First Aid and CPR Class. Contact American Red Cross for more information. You should also consider Community Emergency Response Team or CERT classes (see www.la-quinta.org for more information)  Keep family records in a water and fireproof safe. Inexpensive models can be purchased at most hardware stores. Keep extra cash for emergencies too  Prepare an emergency supply go kit to grab & go in case you have to evacuate  Build your home, car, and office Emergency Preparedness Kits for survival  Have Emergency Water supplies at home, in the car, and at the office  Be prepared to take pets if forced to evacuate and have water & supplies for them  Use camping supplies if needed for cooking and shelter if power is out  Do not grill or light fires indoors  Be careful of gas leaks before lighting matches or fires  Wear sturdy shoes or boots to avoid getting cut by debris  Consider throwing a “preparedness party” to organize your neighborhood or business neighborhood for emergencies  Consider becoming a La Quinta PREP (People Responding with Emergency Preparedness) Program Leader for your neighborhood of business area (see www.la-quinta.org/lqprep for more information) Emergency Notification

Emergency Alert System (EAS): The City of La Quinta and Riverside County have access to the Emergency Alert System, the partnership with local media in which emergency messages are broadcast giving emergency instructions for citizens over local and regional media outlets. CODE RED is a notification system to keep La Quinta residents informed in any emergency. You can sign up for CODE RED on the city web page at: www.la-quinta.org

Coachella Valley Area Media (Where to listen for emergency information)

Name Medium Languages KESQ TV 42 TV English KPSP TV 2 (CBS) TV English KVER TV 4 (Univision) TV Spanish KMIR TV 6 (NBC) TV English KPSI AM 920 radio English KNEWS 94.3 FM & 970/1140/1250 KNWZ AM News Talk radio English KXPS AM 1010 Sports Talk radio English KDES FM 104.7 radio English KMRJ FM 99.5 radio English KPSI FM 100.5 radio English KDGL FM 106.9 The Eagle radio English KPLM FM 106 Country radio English KFUT 1270 AM radio Spanish KCLB FM 93.7 Active Rock radio English KJJZ FM 102.3 Jazz radio English KEZN FM 103.1 Soft Rock radio English KAJR FM 95.9 Jack FM radio English

Shelter-In-Place

Shelter-in-place involves simply staying in your house or other building, in order to avoid harm. In the event of a chemical spill or release you may be instructed to remain indoors and shut off outside air intake to avoid harmful fumes that may have been dispersed into the air. Listen to local radio and TV for emergency instructions.

Evacuation

If Evacuation of certain areas of the city or county becomes necessary due to an emergency situation, you will be instructed to leave your home and neighborhood and seek a location of safety. Shelter sites and evacuation routes will be designated. Listen to local radio and TV for emergency instructions.

For more information on Emergency Preparedness for City of La Quinta residents, neighborhoods, and business facilities contact the City of La Quinta Emergency Services Coordinator at 760-777-7061 or email at [email protected] web page www.la-quinta.org/lqprep