Be Prepared for Disasters

Disasters can't be prevented. We know they'll always come, especially living in Southern California, where earthquakes, fires, landslides, power failures and droughts are common. Add in the things that can happen anywhere, like floods, pandemic disease or terrorism, and we live in a pretty active place! The best we can do is to reduce the effects of disasters before they occur, prepare for what we know could happen, and respond and recover as best we can.

The City of Aliso Viejo partners with the Orange County Sheriff's Department, the Orange County Fire Authority, the American Red Cross and other resources to prepare for disasters big and small. The City maintains an Emergency Operations Plan to guide city staff during disasters, maintains a Hazard Mitigation Plan to minimize the effects of disasters, and participates in training and drills to practice what to do when disaster strikes.

We're used to thinking that someone to help us in an emergency is only a 911 call away, and that's usually true. But the lesson we learn from disasters is that, no matter how modern or advanced we become, we can still be overwhelmed by forces beyond our control. Climate, geology, technology breakdown, even viruses can still hit hard enough to disrupt everything. When that happens, and eventually something will, public safety responders will re-group and respond as quickly as they can. But if a devastating event occurs in the dense population of Southern California, you can see the size of the task awaiting the responders. They won't be able to help everyone at once!

Have you done anything to reduce the effects of disaster in your home, like earthquake-proofing your furnishings or keeping a fire-defensible space around your home? Will you be able to care for yourself and your household until help arrives? Are you ready to live for three days or more without utilities, grocery stores or restaurants? How will your family re-unite if separated, or at least keep in contact?

If you're not ready yet, it's time to get started. It can be as simple as connecting to one of these links for checklists and readiness information. And every spring, the City holds a Citizens Emergency Preparedness Academy. You can also take American Red Cross courses or volunteer to coordinate the efforts of your neighborhood.

We know disasters will strike. When they do, you will be shocked and disoriented- everyone will. But the amount of thought and preparation you put in now can be the difference between helplessness and recovery.