Watch CBS News

Hey, LA! Make Sure You're Prepared For An Emergency

STUDIO CITY (CBS) — Chris Ipsen from the Los Angeles Emergency Management Department visited KCAL 9 Wednesday to discuss the importance of emergency preparedness.

Visit Ready LA for more information and keep the following tips in mind:

Tip 1: Find all shut-offs for your utilities and learn how to shut them off if necessary. The hazards that come with utilities tend to be overlooked, but after a natural disaster water, electricity, and gas could be very dangerous if they're not shut off.

Tip 2: Designate an out-of-state friend or relative to be your family contact and make sure every family member knows the phone number and checks in after a disaster. During an emergency, intrastate phone lines are often overloaded and it is easier to call out of state numbers than intrastate numbers.

Tip 3: Make an emergency kit for your pet, too. Pets also need disaster survival kits during an emergency, including: pet food, water, medications, contact information, photo of pet, small blanket, toy, written instruction for your pet's care, and if you have a cat, a small shoebox and a bag of sand for a makeshift litter box.

Tip 4: If you are on the beach and you feel the earth shake, immediately head for higher ground. Earthquakes can cause tsunamis, so don't wait for a tsunami warning to head for higher ground if you feel an earthquake on the beach.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.